Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


HANDS by WINIFRED VIRGINIA JACKSON

First Line: IT WUZ' ER HANDS! I WARNED 'ER TEW!
Last Line: IT WUZ'ER HANDS!
Subject(s): HANDS;

"It wuz'er hands! I warned'er, tew!
I says, 'They're white,
Milk-white, but they turns red an' shine
Like eyes at night!'

"I says, 'I sees'em at your side
As nothin' you
Would like to have'em look like if
You only knew.'

"I says, 'You're nails hain't dirty as
They ought'r be,
A-doin' o' the chores you do
Along o' me!'

"I says, 'If you'd jest let me feel
Your hands, perhaps
They'd seem more human-like an' not
Like tophet traps!'

"I says, 'They're ha'nts, I tell you, @3ha'nts!@1
Why, strings o' dough,
When you be kneadin' it for bread,
The fust I know,

'Turns jest like blood, an' slews an' drops
From off'n 'em
An' sets my innerds quiv'rin' like
A worm-et stem!'

"But she . . . she laughs an' laughs . . . an' raised
'Em up an' worked
'Em like a spider's legs at me . . .
She knowed it irked . . .

"An' @3they turns red@1. . . . I warned'er, tew!
Jed understands
The reason o' my chokin' 'er --
@3It wuz'er hands!@1



Home: PoetryExplorer.net