veins traverse hands clasped together 

like the roads of our last midnight trip

old scars painted over knuckles and fingers

like the healing words passing through lips

healed blisters and old callouses spatter across palms

like the growth hard won through difficult conversations at 2am 

nails show chipped polish and bitten edges

like the remnants of insecurities and nervous habits long gone

sun kissed skin encompasses muscles and bones

like embraces at the tops of mountains or the bottoms of beaches 

i will hold your hand until arthritic bones disallow my body to obey my heart

i will work with you through hardship and sunshine

through scarring times and balmy days

because i love you

and your hands were meant to hold mine