in the palm of my hand
a snowflake on mittens
barbie sunglasses looming above
plastic bodies preaching ideals
that nightmare of a spider
I woke up; it creeped up and bit my thumb
dandelion fluff ashes of wishes
a rebel crayon looking for front lines to cross
a glass shard reflecting mom's first cuss word
a bumble bee by the slide, "just stand still", sting, teachers lie
wax worm tickling before dad's hooks pierced
communion cup, upturned, suctioned, tap-dancing a pew
milk dud trios in tiny boxes under a Lucy mask
a deflated balloon after a party I wasn't invited to
a golf ball when dad couldn't teach me to swing anymore
popcorn kernels on the stove, mom's oil, timing
erasers in raised hands, rolling eyes, prank calls
a key to the dorm room, old carpet, a kiss under a blossom tree
stamps on letters from Frankfort, palm to chest to quiet the pounding
a diamond ring, a question
an eggshell, arguments, payments
mini-rubber ducky, tiny palms around our pinkies, bath time
a red pen cap, stories in rows of desks and eyes
a grape and a walnut, a temple of why
a raindrop on a run, or a teardrop, the same
a paper clip removed, a manuscript tossed to heaven
empty, cupped, two creases
You with scars in yours
and me the line below
so close
"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..." Isaiah 49:16
“To see a world in a grain of sand
And heaven in a wild flower
Hold infinity in the palms of your hand
And eternity in an hour.”
William Blake
