Hi Sally,
I like this, especially that line "It would take a week for them to heal", 
which seems to me a really excellent, understated way of saying they never 
healed.
I'd think about leaving out the last line though - I think you could end it 
with "would not let me go" just as effectively.
Regards,
Matt

>From: Sally James <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Mam's hands
>Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2006 23:31:21 +0100
>
>Mam’s hands
>
>She was frail, but her hands were strong,
>crumpled, like leaves about to fall.
>After washday they would glisten red,
>plastered with white petroleum jelly.
>It would take a week for them to heal.
>When she grew old, blue veins throbbed
>below pale transparent skin.
>
>I think of her hands often now
>they way they could smack and clap,
>scrub and polish, bake and knit,
>her fingers moving so fast
>the wool caught on cracked fingertips.
>The way she would not let me go
>held my hand in hers, warm, secure, safe.
>
>Sally James