poetry

Open Hands

Sally

I remind myself,
Unclench your hands
Hold them open

I remind myself,
Take a breath,
Don’t hold it

This week, the W3 prompt is to go on an introspective free verse journey. To do that, Allpoetry suggests starting with an image. I started with an image of open hands.

As you can see it was a struggle.

I wanted to write about how when you hold things too tightly, they cut into your hands and cause pain and injury.

I wanted to write something about that time my uncle grabbed onto an electric fence to show us it was safe, and like gullible little nieces and nephews, we grabbed on, too. And it wasn’t (safe) and we knew it before we did it but we were so gullible and trusting which is a kind of open hand even though it’s a closed hand on a wire.

I wanted to write about that sensation that I still feel of a dragonfly in my hand that flew away.

I wanted to write that cheesy sentiment that flourished in the 70s right along with the yellow smiley face and peace signs — it said something like, “If you love someone, let them go. If they return, they’re yours. If they don’t, they never were.” I was in high school in the 70s — first loves and all that — but the more I think about it, I don’t think it’s true. I think in some situations, like children leaving home and finding their way in the world, they don’t come back, and that’s because you’ve done your job well. I have a daughter in London right now. She has fallen in love with a city that’s far from home and I couldn’t be happier for her. I hold her with open hands.

So I open my hands to the people in my life.

And I’ll breathe through the stresses in my life.

But I won’t write a very good introspective poem.

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Published by Sally

14 thoughts on “Open Hands”

  4. Prompts are there just to maybe set a thought off – and your thoughts were many and then succinctly tied into a lovely short poem 💞 I do not live far from London, if ever your daughter needs help – shout …..

    Reply

    1. I tried to follow the directions from allpoetry and ended up with a huge wordy mess. Yes, the prompt set off a lot of thoughts. I think it was the form that I struggled with.

      Thank you for your kind offer re: my daughter. She’s doing a semester abroad, but I cannot think of a time when she has been happier and more in her element. It’s really a joy for me to see.

      Reply

  6. Sally I love the poem and the prose that follows! This was a tough one since no one really liked to take that close up examination of self! Your metaphor of hands is really a nice take on the prompt and I had to laugh about the electric fence! ouch!

    Reply

    1. Haha – it’s not even a metaphor for me. It’s my life. I have to regularly remind myself to unclench and to breath. I really do think it’s why swimming is so important to me. When you swim, you HAVE to breath, and you HAVE to open your hands to catch the water.

      As far as the electric fence incident — within minutes of posting, my brother messaged me to correct me. It wasn’t our uncle, but a cousin. My brother confessed to grabbing the wire, too, though.

      Reply

  8. I love the stream of thoughts and reminders, Sally. I also have to remind myself to keep open hands with my grown children. 💞

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