Searching for the perfect hand

I watch you with

Her

It reminds me of

The way my grandfather

Looked at my mom. 

My mom 

Told me the 

Most beautiful 

Story about my 

Grandfather.  

Her father.   

I have few 

Memories

Of him

Because he died

When I was 7.

I loved him.  

He was the 

Principal of 

My school.  

At lunch I would 

Run down

The hallway

And have lunch

In his office.  

My mom 

Told me the story 

Of my father and how

Her father didn't 

Like him.  

He said he 

Did not have 

The right hands.  

They were not 

Perfect. 

I asked my 

Mom what 

This meant.  

My mom 

Explained that

As a young girl

Her father 

Would hold her 

Hand and tell

Her when

She got older 

And she found 

A boy she loved

He hoped he 

Had perfect 

Hands. 

Perfect hands?

What does that 

Mean.  

Perfect hands 

Are the hands of 

A father 

Loving 

Caring 

Thoughtful 

Kind and 

Selfless.

As he would 

Hold my mommas 

Hand growing 

Up he prayed 

That

The hand 

That replaced 

His was a man

With hands 

Of compassion 

Not childish.

A man who 

Could take 

Care of her 

Not her 

Take care 

Of him.

Well 

It did not 

Happen.

My fathers

Hands were

Not perfect.  

He was selfish

Childish

And was

Not able 

To grow.  

No compassion.  

My husband 

Tricked me.  

Or maybe 

I tricked 

Myself.  

Either way

He was also 

A child.   

Then I 

Met you.

I thought of 

My grandfather. 

You have perfect 

Hands.

It took me 40

Years to

Quit settling.

Generation 

After 

Generation 

We all

Want the same 

Things for 

Ourselves 

And our children.

We want 

Someone 

With perfect

Hands to 

Take our

Hands.

We want 

Someone 

Who is 

Grown.

It makes a perfect 

Circle.  

I watch 

You with 

Her.  It's hard 

To let go 

Of her hand.  

How can you 

Trust something

So precious.  

Knowing she

Will compromise 

Her whole being.  

You have worked 

So hard for 

Her to know 

What she deserves.  

My grandfather 

Used to 

Say to me..

When you love 

Someone 

You apologize and give 

In so there is 

No fight.  

But they 

Have to do 

The same for 

You.  

You also want 

To put your 

Hand in theirs 

And 

Know...

They could 

And would protect 

You.  

Take care of 

You.  

You just want 

Her to have 

That perfect 

Hand.  

I do 

Too.

I want her 

To 

See what 

You see.

What she can't 

See. 

She is 

Perfection 

And 

Hope 

This 

Is the 

Perfect 

Hand.