The Mirror

The Mirror

This morning I decided to take

a long look at myself in the mirror

I see

hair uncombed,

two brown eyes, a mouth, a nose

a few pimples, and scars left behind

by the ones that used to be

I see

moles on my high cheekbones from heredity

Staring at my bare, mocha colored skin,

I notice the curve of my shoulders,

length of my arms, hands

the shape of my breasts,

the hollow of my navel,

and stretch marks telling a story of the tiny,

fragile life that grew inside me

I see

three small scars left from a recent surgery

I see

long legs with thick thighs,

and

after a moment,

I turn to one side

to study my profile

I notice the arc of my back,

the generous curve of my behind

I look at my thighs a second time

then focus on my legs entirely

I see

how they taper down at my ankles

then finally

I come to my feet