Small Hand, Long Reach

SMALL HAND,
LONG REACH
Big coat.
Small shoes.
Snow blows sideways
Between us two.
Rope on the ground.
Palm turned up.
I wait.
People make room
When I walk through.
Shoulders turn.
You see it too.
Your sleeve hangs long.
Your fist stays tucked.
One wet lace
In the frozen slush.
I lower slow.
One knee down.
Boot leather creaks.
You watch that sound.
Old strap groove
Under my chin.
I catch your eyes.
You look again.
Pull my glove.
Leave it there.
White fingertip.
Knuckles bare.
Hand knows weight.
Hand knows recoil.
Now it hangs open
Above the coil.
You look down.
Then look back.
I feed the rope.
Leave some slack.
Your sleeve moves.
My breath stops.
Small hand.
Long reach.
Cold rope
Between our feet.
I hold still.
You come near.
Your fingers cross
The space left here.
Hold the tether.
Let it run.
Loose in the middle.
Held at both ends.
Small hand.
Long reach.
Your eyes stay
Right on me.
You touch the rope.
Rub one thread.
Look down the line
At those ahead.
A woman waits.
Her bag hangs low.
A man holds steady.
Boots sunk in snow.
Someone further
Lifts the line.
Movement travels
Back to mine.
You take one step.
Then stop short.
I keep my palm
Where it was before.
Your thumb finds
The split in skin.
Stops at the edge.
Then settles in.
My fingers twitch.
I ease them back.
You shift your hold.
I leave it slack.
You check my hand.
Then check my face.
I have to swallow
Before we take
One small step.
Into the track.
Small hand.
Long reach.
Cold rope
Between our feet.
I hold still.
You come near.
Your fingers cross
The space left here.
Hold the tether.
Let it run.
Loose in the middle.
Held at both ends.
Small hand.
Long reach.
Your eyes stay
Right on me.
Wind hits hard.
You grip tight.
My hand starts closing.
I catch it in time.
You lean close.
I bend low.
You brush the ice
Off my coat.
Then turn around.
Another child.
Hand half raised.
A few steps behind.
You keep mine.
Reach with your free.
I watch you wait
The way you watched me.
Small hand.
Long reach.
Cold rope
Between our feet.
I hold still.
You come near.
Your fingers cross
The space left here.
Hold the tether.
Let it run.
Loose in the middle.
Held at both ends.
Small hand.
Long reach.
Your eyes stay
Right on me.
Big coat.
Small shoes.
One wet lace.
I stop for you.
Knot pulled snug.
Hand held light.
You wait beside me.
Then we join the line.