A new term popped up in the news this week. Although it rang of truth, I was disheartened by its nomenclature, Long-Haul Pandemic. With this said, I am thankful for helping hands during these trying pandemic times. The following are thoughts and images on the need for thoughtful acts of kindness delivered by helping hands.
The golden shovel poems below are based on the strike line, "Since hands exist, you have had hope", from the poem, Hands by Hawre Khalid.
Helping Hands
Dedicated to All helping hands during pandemic times.
Life has changed since
COVID 19. Your gentle hands
Comfort those who exist
In closed quarters. You
Know pangs of sorrow that have
Evolved each day. Your hands had
Leaned into pain and despair on the wings of hope!
©CV, 2021
👐
Hope crouched in corners since the beginning of the pandemic. Gentle hands continue to reach out to those who exist under a veil of sorrow. The collective you touch lives who have known the confines of a sterile PPE word and those who had few pathways to hope.
Thank you, Laura Shovan, for offering space to write during
your 9th Annual February Daily Poem Project.
👐
Remembering Her Hands
Dedicated to my dear grandmother whose hands brought joy to my childhood world.
When Nonnie's hands held mine,
summer unfolded in simplicity.
Fragrant flowers bloomed.
Caterpillars tickled the path.
Clothing hung to dry.
Time stood still.
When Nonnie's hands held mine,
Books became my friends.
Curiosity awakened.
Nature's wonders explored
And childhood dreams celebrated
with a hopeful heart.
As summers passed
And hands grew still,
Rose-petaled memories
Carried me home
To when Nonnie's hands
Gently held mine.
©CV, 2021
👐
I give thanks today to Jone Rush MacCulloch, host of Poetry Friday who also provided the Poetry Postcard Exchange for the start of the new year. At her blog, you will see her poetree she created to showcase each of the eleven poems in the exchange, one of which was mine. Her project brought joy to our small group of poets.
It is so great to think of the many helping hands during this pandemic. I think of nurses, doctors, frontline workers, grocery store clerks, and teachers. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWe all need to send shoutouts to essential workers for their steadfastness during pandemic times. Thanks for stopping by Michelle.
DeleteCarol: I am so tired of this pandemic, but I started telling myself that I am not in charge. What will be, will be. I will do what I can each day, and that is enough. It seems to bring me some peace. So, today I'm reading some poetry and I came upon your Nonnie's hands poem. "Time stood still." Lovely! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI like your tip for yourself that I want to adopt: I will do what I can each day, and that is enough. I woke up early this morning thinking of the all I have to do to pack up my house. There never seems to be enough time, Karen.
DeleteI am grateful for the many helping hands through this past year. I love your poem about Nonnie's hands. It holds such warmth and love.
ReplyDeleteMany treasures in this post! My favorite is your golden shovel. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOh, those special helping hands. We couldn't make it without them, Carol. That is a beautiful tribute, as is the sweet one about your Nonnie. Mine too taught me card games. We spent many hours playing Canasta. Now I look back & wonder if she needed to be doing something else, but took the time with me, for which I am ever grateful!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I think being a grandmother is a special calling. I only hope that when the pandemic is over I will fill my granddaughters' days with joy. Enjoy your winter days.
DeleteThose hands, the helping and a grandmother’s hands, beautiful. I’m still working on my hands poem. Thank you for sharing these.
ReplyDeleteHands are the connectors in life. Everyone needs physical touch to bind love together. May we hope for a soon return to this needed piece of staying connected.
DeleteYour grandmother's hands did so much to make you who you are. Hearts are connected through hands as your poem shows with such detail, Carol.
ReplyDeleteThe touch of hands to hands is a remarkable one that I have been thinking about lately. We saw our little granddaughters briefly when we traveled to our new house in Virginia. Although we cannot touch, hug, or kiss we found a way to connect. On the Valentine bag filled with presents, I tied a very long ribbon. My daughter and 3-year-old granddaughter ran around my patio with hands holding onto each end of the ribbon. I took a video. Then, it was my turn. When the virus reaches herd immunity, my hope is for hand-to-hand touch to become a reality again.
DeleteCarol, I always love a golden shovel, and how you always manage to shovel the gold of hope from the depths of despair as you did in your verse here. Oh, your Nonnie; how she shaped you. Her fingerprints are all over you in your characteristic love of nature. I am quite certain her heart still beats within yours.
ReplyDeleteI love what you said,"certain her heart still beats within yours". It does and wish to introduce her sense of living into my little granddaughters'lives. Thank you for the comment, Fran. Now, off to add my comments to the last responder at SJT.
DeleteI have to 'hand' it to you, Carol, both of your poems are 'hands down' lovely. (I apologize for my propensity to pun;) Seriously, your "Nonnie's hands" poem especially touched my heart, thank you. :)
ReplyDeleteLove your pun, Bridget. Thank you for reading and commenting on my Nonnie's hands' poem. it brought me back to my childhood. It is difficult now to see my own little granddaughters when I do and not be able to touch or hug them. Someday soon it will be wonderful to do so without the fear of COVID.
DeleteCarol, your poems are wonderful tributes to many helping hands. Touch is so important. I love your beautiful tribute to your Nonnie. I especially love these images: "caterpillars tickled the path/books became my friends/nature's wonders explored/rose-petaled memories." Your poem brought back memories of my grandmothers and grandfather. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGail, with joy I celebrate your memories of your grandmothers and grandfather. They are the stronghold of families.
DeleteFrom Rita Wirtz via Twitter: LOVE THIS, Carol. There are many helpers and helping hands right now, as should be. Because we are here for each other, we gain strength, hope and vision of possibilities beyond the power of now.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carol. I'm happy for you you will soon be living closer to your grandchildren holding their hands and making beautiful memories with them.
ReplyDeleteYour prayerful poems always leave me at peace, Carol. I am thrilled to hear you were able to get vaccine appointments. They are so hard to come by. Excited for your new adventure that awaits you soon!
ReplyDelete