In position

The still hand
I push it.
The still hand
I pull it.

The hand moves ahead
I push it back.
The hand moves backward
I pull it back.

The hand moves ahead and the hand moves slower so
I grasp around it and then push it back.
The hand moves backward and again moves slower so
I grasp around it and then push it back.

The hand moves ahead and the hand moves quicker so
I hold fast to it and then pull it back.
The hand moves backward and again moves quicker so
I hold fast to it and then pull it back.

The hand moves ahead and the hand a hearts given so
I embrace it and then push it back.
The hand moves backward and again a hearts given so
I embrace it and then push it back.

The hand moves ahead and the hand a hearts taken so
I depend on it and then pull it back.
The hand moves backward and again a hearts taken so
I depend on it and then pull it back.

The hand moves ahead and the hand bites icy so
I put it down and then push it back.
The hand moves backward and again bites icy so
I put it down and then push it back.

The hand moves ahead and the hand a hearts breaking so
I rush to repair it and then pull it back.
The hand moves backward and again a hearts breaking so
I rush to repair it and then pull it back.

The hand moves ahead and the hand a hearts broken so
I surround it and then push it back.
The hand moves backward and again a hearts broken so
I surround it and then push it back.

The hand moves ahead and the hand a hearts lost so
I crush it and stomp it and then pull it back.
The hand moves backward and again a hearts lost so
I crush it and stomp it and then pull it back.

The hand moves ahead and the hand burns torrid so
I drown it down and then push it back.
The hand moves backward and again burns torrid so
I drown it down and then push it back.

The hand moves ahead and the hand stabs horrid so
I cut it down and then pull it back.
The hand moves backward and again stabs horrid so
I cut it down and then pull it back.

The hand moves ahead and the hand fogged fades so
I turn up the sound and then push it back.
The hand moves backward and again fogged fades so
I turn up the sound and then push it back.

The hand moves ahead and the hand once falters so
I give no notice and then pull it back.
The hand moves backward and again once falters so
I give no notice and then pull it back.

The hand moves ahead and the hand faintly flinches so
I just ignore it and then push it back.
The hand moves backward and again faintly flinches so
I just ignore it and then push it back.

The hand moves ahead and the hand feebly falls so
I blindly restore it and then pull it back.
The hand moves backward and again feebly falls so
I blindly restore it and then pull it back.

The hand moves ahead and the hand fails fully so
I founder there and then push it back.
The hand moves backward and again fails fully so
I founder there and then push it back.

The hand slides ahead
And then I pull it back.
The hand slips backward
And then I pull it back.

The slow hand
I push it.
The still hand
I push it.

The hand stops.

(c) 12142000

paul wallen
watercolor90@hotmail.com