Hands

Cupped hands
Hold the light
Drawing it downward
Through cracks
In the slate

Open hands
Pour the light
Into cold soil
Through stone and root
To the seed

Digging hands
Burrow into the darkness
Pushing the light
Farther down,
To meet its fate

Holding hands
Cradle the seed
Warming its husk
Feeding light
To the hungry mouth


Pushing hands
Press the seed
Up to the sky
Arranging the meeting
Of light and life

Lifting hands
Gently support
Creating new ground
To stand on firmly, to
Live and breathe and rise.