if only i had strong giant hands


if only i had strong giant hands
long enough hands to feel the world
like eucalyptus roots 
that stretch and stretch
and reach and hug mountains of people
giant hands
open giant hands
the color of moist earth
big enough to rub every child's chin
big enough to pad every dad on the back
shake their hands
and say thank you
giant root hands
to retrace the wrinkles
of every grandmother
those with grandsons and those without grandsons
hands the color of sand
to catch every mothers' tears 
and grow calla lilies between my earth fingers
giant hands to cup the moon 
a white butterfly flapping its wings
before it sinks into the ocean
giant hands to catch the buzzing sun
before it stings the peasant's dark back
ocean hands to push all the sails to their shores
callused hands
callused thick as earth's crust
to bounce back every bullet
hard rock hands
hard rock fingers that will break
cool clear water will emanate and wander
tree branch hands
were all the humming birds
and mocking birds 
will perch instead of perching on metal wires
desert hands
oasis running through my lines
lovers would drink from them
on their way to their sweethearts
wind hands
to make women's black hair blow
and windmills grind corn and wheat
wind to provoke coal and 
make the bread rise
human hands
to press against every warm chest
human hands
to feel every heart 
song

AgustĖn Palacios
5/7/2001