Your hands--they are strangely fair! <br />O Fair--for the jewels that sparkle there,-- <br />Fair--for the witchery of the spell <br />That ivory keys alone can tell; <br />But when their delicate touches rest <br />Here in my own do I love them best, <br />As I clasp with eager, acquisitive spans <br />My glorious treasure of beautiful hands! <br /> <br />Marvelous--wonderful--beautiful hands! <br />They can coax roses to bloom in the strands <br />Of your brown tresses; and ribbons will twine, <br />Under mysterious touches of thine, <br />Into such knots as entangle the soul <br />And fetter the heart under such a control <br />As only the strength of my love understands-- <br />My passionate love for your beautiful hands. <br /> <br />As I remember the first fair touch <br />Of those beautiful hands that I love so much, <br />I seem to thrill as I then was thrilled, <br />Kissing the glove that I found unfilled-- <br />When I met your gaze, and the queenly bow, <br />As you said to me, laughingly, 'Keep it now!' . . . <br />And dazed and alone in a dream I stand, <br />Kissing this ghost of your beautiful hand. <br /> <br />When first I loved, in the long ago, <br />And held your hand as I told you so-- <br />Pressed and caressed it and gave it a kiss <br />And said 'I could die for a hand like this!' <br />Little I dreamed love's fullness yet <br />Had to ripen when eyes were wet <br />And prayers were vain in their wild demands <br />For one warm touch of your beautiful hands. <br /> <br />. . . . . . . . . <br />Beautiful Hands!--O Beautiful Hands! <br />Could you reach out of the alien lands <br />Where you are lingering, and give me, to-night, <br />Only a touch--were it ever so light-- <br />My heart were soothed, and my weary brain <br />Would lull itself into rest again; <br />For there is no solace the world commands <br />Like the caress of your beautiful hands.<br /><br />James Whitcomb Riley<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/her-beautiful-hands/
