Grandma's Hands

My Grandma’s hands were lined with sinewy blue veins
that were gnarled but still useful.

Her hands were as ancient and strong
as the exposed roots of great trees.

She used them -

  for sewing blankets to keep her family warm,
 
for washing,
  scrubbing,
  chopping,
  stirring,
  planting vegetables,
  fruits and flowers

so they could live, eat
and enjoy beauty in their lives.

She used them-

for fixing little girl's hair,
baking Christmas cookies,
testing foreheads for fevers,
giving comforting hugs,

and for folding together in prayer,
kneeling on the hard floor,
at the end of the day

when everything and everyone becomes quiet
and the only sound was the creaking of the floor board.