stance of hands

there is a picture of ago, time ago
hand-in-hand leading

i am leading you.

you are looking back
over shoulder

your body is turned
toward me

my wrist holds a watch
holds tightly to time
seems i did not want this to pass

this time

your fingers grasp, grip
my solitary finger

it is the whole of your hand

wrapped          gripped

onto my small, slender finger

my slender finger bears a ring
it is encompassed

choked

around my tiny, bare finger
and it beams.

i am not beaming.
i am holding.

gripping.

seems we are gripping to another
although different places

you looking back in intrigue
me looking forward expressionless

oh! and my hand!
my hand!
the one you touch
the one you hold effortlessly
my fingertips touch your palm
your wrist
as if
they are meant to be there
have been there
always
and now when we hold

gripping

without even glancing at one another

we bear
that same touch
position

stance of hands

only now
i have no time wrapped upon my bare wrist
i have no ring beaming on my tender finger

my hand holds yours
naked

clean

and our facing directions change
moment by moment

uncaptured

unlike this image of you
captured.
held.

unlike this image of me
held.
captured.
-- jessica c. lindley