I will speak my life

Naturally, I feel compelled to agree entirely with Laura here, though my instinct tells me that Tracey's idea holds more credence in this instance. Anstey, by contrast, is obviously suffering the ravages of pre-senile dementia, so you can disregard entirely his incoherent drivel :>

As for the poem, I do [belatedly] agree with Kat's suggestion, which you've already acted upon, to good effect.  Although now a superfluous suggestion, I feel that a reference to 'hands' would have been more appropriate and natural in bringing this to a conclusion.