© Hannah Garson
Family of Lisa Spencer | Penn State Health St. Joseph Cancer Center
My mother’s hands
Cool my burning forehead,
Stroke my flushed cheeks,
Massage my aching limbs,
Touch to heal.
My mother’s hands
Pick me up,
Clean my scrapes,
Bandage my knees,
Touch to mend.
My mother’s hands
Spread sunscreen down my back,
Around my shoulders,
Along my arms,
Touch to protect.
My mother’s hands
Squeeze mine,
Pat my back,
Rub my arm,
Touch to reassure.
My mother’s hands
Work a morphine pump,
Drop it,
Grope for it,
Touch to find.
My hands
Grab the pump,
Position it back,
Caress her hands,
Touch to touch.