To my body

When I was little I luxuriated in you

Let your legs carry me up trees and into castles

Past fire breathing dragons

And over sidewalk chalk

You danced me in ballet class

With my head held high

I spun and leapt without caring who saw

Until I saw too much

And then I started noticing you

I started seeing all the ways you weren’t enough

Or the ways you were too much

If only you were like her

I treacherously thought

So I tried to hide you

Of course it didn’t work

But I wore hoodies as if they were invisibility cloaks

And pretended that you barely existed

However I grew tired of being ashamed of you

Since you'd forever remain with me

I might as well make peace

So I returned to ballet buns and hardwood floors

The site of my lost battle

This time would be different

I promised to myself

and started to look beyond the mirror

Saw how your legs could leap me through the air

your fluttering arms spun me like wings

I realized you were not something to be ashamed of

But you were art, like the dances we created together

And why should I hide something so beautiful?

I apologize for the times I hid you behind crossed arms

And scowled at your reflection

Now every day as I dance

I embrace the truth of your perfection