i am an eastern european "mutt"

my frizzy hair is an odd hue of auburn

you may only catch sight of the streaks of red in the sun

my almond-shaped eyes are so small you wouldn't know my irises are blue

my hooded eyes give them a harder look

my nose is thin and has a curved slope

my mouth is small, my teeth crooked and not centered with my lips

my jaw is wide and strong, my neck long and slim

my left ear sticks out more than my right ear

my torso is longer than my legs, giving me an altogether awkward figure

my limbs burly and big-boned

(as can be expected of the granddaughter of two extremely skilled kobasice artisans)

my hands might be my favorite feature of mine

i suppose everyone sees their own hands more than enough, not only to know them very well but to grow to like them

but i like mine because my long, slender fingers allow me to make the complex fingerings on the flute 

my long, smooth nails enable me to strum at a guitar

the strength and flexibility of my fingers allow me to play the piano skillfully

my hands plait my hair, sketch portraits, fold paper into shapes,

and write down words and lyrics that speak me through them

they speak "Annie" through them