Soft hands

At the clergy gathering I attended on Wednesday, a colleague shared about teaching her small daughter not to hit.  Soft hands, she said.  We are teaching her to use soft hands.  Here*s to you, Amy and Allison, and to your daughter.  Soft hands are a Very Good Thing.

My colleague speaks of teaching

Her child not to hit others.

Soft hands,

She says,

We are teaching her to use

Soft hands.

I am struck in turn

By the image

Of soft hands,

Hands that stroke and caress

Hands that love.

We are teaching her to use

Soft hands,

And if she is not ready

For soft hands,

She can hold her own hands

Together.

I imagine a world of soft hands

Or

If we*re not quite ready yet,

A world of holding our own hands

Together

Until we are ready to use

Soft hands.