oily or too dry, uncooperative
hair—pimply skin & mangled nose
(or at least that’s what they say)—
sometimes a unibrow

my inherited stomach, home
to my organs & the heart
of all my emotions, short hairs
shaved down

faint, scarred thighs—my favorite
part of my body with knees
dabbled with light freckles
& blond hair

calves down to a wide foot
with joined toes—back up
to my arms & hands,
delicate & loving

this body, as it molds & changes,
holds the soul of a child,
pressed into the backseat with scraped,
rug-burned knees, looking at the passing world