Earth Tiger

I stand before the inner door looking at my reflection, half clean, half blurry. As the sun makes its slanted way, shining on my form, I take a look to adorn the body I inhabit. Skin smooth, tan, raccoon tan in place. My arms, muscular but chubby, hang by my torso, short as my legs are longer. My legs toned and strong, with tens of thousands of kilometres in them and flexibility like a big cat, from ballet nine years, yoga nine years, stretching always in general.

I was at yoga after eight months in a happy baby pose when I took notice of my feet. Slender, piano toes at the end of me. Human paws, callused a little but smooth and soft still, how many places has these two feet seen already. My collarbones slender and visible when shown, framing my shoulders and neck, long and young. My face dotted with summer freckles, a new addition of the past five years, rays kissing my face, my hair light chestnut, broken at the ends, but cut into layers. Silken smooth black hair like vermicelli, river of my beauty. I see a Vietnamese face, mine. Wide flat nose, full lips from birth, semi-hooded eyelids, piano fingers to complement the toes.

Here I am, at yoga, and I realise, I am not bad, the least. I'm the best in class. In beginners class. I like speed and flexibility. I love the face, I love the body, I love the being. We have arrived. I stand assertively and walk, and cycle even more so. I try to notice and listen to people, and be aware to make them comfortable. When in a bad mood I frown and am quiet as a dawntime lake. The first daughter, the precious daughter. Born the year of the Tiger, the Earth Tiger.