Hands
By Joel Gaines
Thirsty, hopeless, looking up
A dry branch, dead to awe
Chained to the dirt beneath me
Just as worthless
Hope doesn’t live on the ground
Broken dreams, memories, completely lost
Hanging on by a glimpse of light
The smell of water revives my pulse
By the looks of things you would think I’m dead, defeated
I see
I feel
I am moved
A hand reaches for me
I am touched, I think I know that feeling
I am lifted, no need for excitement yet
I can’t trust this, can I?
I want to smother my pulse
I see a branch
The branch
I smell the water
The hand connects me
I feel complete
A part of something bigger than I know
Like the endless sky I have seen for days
The connection is deeper than my existence
I feel water
I taste love
I am connected
My view changes
Horizontal branches of life surround me
Love overtakes me
I feel the water
I see the ground below me
I am no longer a part of it
My pulse races, I allow it
I smell fruit
For the first time
I see fruit, I smell it
Free
Loved
Completed
United
Today, I am a newborn
Today, I am alive
(based on John 15)
