A Handful of Water
I watched,
but from a safe distance
and took note
of how you worked them
between your
rough, calloused and still
bleeding hands
until they were smoothe
like pebbles
or pretty polished glass ..
And my word,
how they glistened upon
the backs
and the palms of those
hands of yours ..
I recall how I marvelled
at how they
looked just like pearls,
but were mere
beads of water, yet no less
precious perhaps
than perfect cut diamonds
in this desolate
landscaped desert of ours ..