New Hands

New Hands 

Celia got drinking from her Mother 

and hitting from her Father, 

and yelling from both.

And She took it all in

and digested it and became it,

because you are what you eat.

And her parents ate from the table of their parents.

Who ate from the table of theirs.

Back and Back and Back,

and Celia was stuck.

But cells die,

And every seven years we are new.

Celia's new heart and new hands

set the table 

and stir the pot

and serve better stuff 

than she ever got

(Carol Lynn Pearson, Women I Have Know and Been, 1992)