Skip to content
1849–1916

HER BEAUTIFUL HANDS

James Whitcomb Riley

Your hands — they are strangely fair! O Fair — for the jewels that sparkle there,— Fair — for the witchery of the spell That ivory keys alone can tell;

But when their delicate touches rest Here in my own do I love them best, As I clasp with eager, acquisitive spans My glorious treasure of beautiful hands!

Marvelous — wonderful — beautiful hands! They can coax roses to bloom in the strands Of your brown tresses; and ribbons will twine, Under mysterious touches of thine,

Into such knots as entangle the soul And fetter the heart under such a control As only the strength of my love understands — My passionate love for your beautiful hands.

As I remember the first fair touch Of those beautiful hands that I love so much, I seem to thrill as I then was thrilled, Kissing the glove that I found unfilled —

When I met your gaze, and the queenly bow, As you said to me, laughingly, “Keep it now!”... And dazed and alone in a dream I stand, Kissing this ghost of your beautiful hand.

When first I loved, in the long ago, And held your hand as I told you so — Pressed and caressed it and gave it a kiss And said “I could die for a hand like this!”

Little I dreamed love's fullness yet Had to ripen when eyes were wet And prayers were vain in their wild demands For one warm touch of your beautiful hands.

Beautiful Hands!— O Beautiful Hands! Could you reach out of the alien lands Where you are lingering, and give me, to-night, Only a touch — were it ever so light —

My heart were soothed, and my weary brain Would lull itself into rest again; For there is no solace the world commands Like the caress of your beautiful hands.

Cookies on Poetry Cove

We use cookies to remember your language preference and — only with your consent — to learn how Poetry Cove is used. You can change your mind any time.
HER BEAUTIFUL HANDS · James Whitcomb Riley · Poetry Cove