Dedicated to my “sister” friend, Joyce, who recently let go of her mother’s hands…
strong women’s hands
shape my life and yours:
grandmas instill faith
aunts stitch laughter
sister friends en-courage
mothers mold hearts.
even if we can no longer
touch those dear hands,
we still hear the voices
of influence cheering us
on like birdsong
in a garden of grace.
Invited by Marina to write poem including words important to us/we are thankful for, on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of dVerse Poets
a poem in my pocket 
Jul 15, 2015 @ 17:46:17
How lovely. This write touched me on a personal level! Thank you for sharing.
Jul 15, 2015 @ 21:32:35
Glad you stopped by, Grace!
Jul 15, 2015 @ 17:06:36
Beautiful poem with a great finale.
Jul 15, 2015 @ 13:30:12
sounds like you have anchored your sense of self in a good place.
Jul 15, 2015 @ 16:28:13
Yes…I’ve been blessed 🙂
Jul 15, 2015 @ 13:09:56
oh that is so true – you just reminded me of some of the women from my fam that really influenced me greatly
Jul 15, 2015 @ 12:09:02
Your last two lines of gratitude are brilliant, yes, & faith & grace have reared their lovely heads in many poems, & obviously many personal lives; another word that proliferates well is “imagination”; one of my choices.
Jul 15, 2015 @ 16:26:36
Thank you for your kind comment, Glenn.
Jul 15, 2015 @ 12:08:49
Yes, so true..and love the birdsong!
Jul 15, 2015 @ 06:59:05
I specially love the ending lines:
onward like birdsong in
a garden of grace.
We are grateful for those strong arms and voices ~
Jul 15, 2015 @ 08:16:59
I appreciate your comment, Grace.
Jul 15, 2015 @ 06:53:27
Excellent write 🙂
Jul 15, 2015 @ 06:25:19
A charming, strong matriarchal lineage there…
Interesting that grace and faith seem to be two words cropping up a lot in the poems of these past two days. You haven’t been influencing each other, have you? No, it must be that great minds think alike…
Jul 15, 2015 @ 08:16:17
Thank you, Marina! I wrote this before I read any others linking to this prompt 🙂
Jul 15, 2015 @ 08:23:52
I was just joking… although maybe there is a bit of ‘thinking along the same lines’ because that’s why we are a community of like-minded individuals, right?
Jul 15, 2015 @ 04:51:13
O how beautiful. Love the image of grandmothers sewing laughter.
Jul 15, 2015 @ 03:11:34
Oh.. LORD.. a LoNELY MALE
in a Matriarchy i live
as well.. but
yes.. the best
gift of all..
UNCONDITIONAL
TOUGH LOVE..:)
Jul 15, 2015 @ 14:27:53
Yes, my mother-in-law did tough love the best 😉
Jul 15, 2015 @ 02:36:02
I agree with Polly–wonderful opening!
Jul 14, 2015 @ 23:19:22
‘strong women’s hands’ – what a lovely start to your poem.
Jul 14, 2015 @ 20:44:49
A very pretty poem of thanks. Thanks. k.