I held so many things in my hands,

A two-year-old’s hand as they guide

Me through the house running and laughing

A pencil after the long nights of studying

To get through school.

A person to hug my family my friends

A warm cup of coffee and a Bible on Sundays

Boxes full of food to donate to the poor

Cause God knows they need more

Iv held sticks to burn in a fire

Iv held a newborn baby who’s never experienced love

Iv held my cat in my arms soft and purring

Iv held a mattress while running to my barracks

Iv held a cold metal gun trained to shoot with a steady hand

Iv held the roughness of a braided rope while doing drills

My hands have been scraped bloodied and callused

My hands have been cut by glass

Torn by cement

My hands have held my comrade in my arms

As they take their last breath begging for me to help them when all I could do was calm their fears

My hands have held a leather bound Bible

Cut from the pages

My hands have held many things,and I have lost them all