Anne Hollier Ruddy grew up in N.Z, had a family in the U.K, then returned to N.Z. In 2000 she relocated to Queensland where, in 2006 she started writing poetry. Her work has appeared in various Australian anthologies and online. Now back living in N.Z, she continues to write and has discovered a love of tanka and haiku.

Anne Hollier Ruddy

---

 

Hands

Our guide pointed to rock
imprinted with white
outlines of hands,
made when ancients blew
wet pigment out of their mouths.

Tears stung my eyes, surprised
that I should be so moved –
those hands were like
whispers of ghosts,
sighs from the past.

Your hands were fine-boned, bare
except for Dad's old gold band.
They hovered light as candyfloss
when you said I wish you could stay
forever and ever. But I didn't.