The outstretched hand
is a lovely thing,
unless it happens
to be yours.
A graceful petition,
sublime expression
of who gives
and who receives.
Until you notice
the shredded nails,
the fingers
truncated
with each
bout
of begging.
That outstretched hand
is no longer lovely,
a bloody, clawed
set of stumps,
too damaged
to feel or grasp
what it was
reaching for
in the first place.
Leave a Reply