Reflection

by Stephanie Cressler

Folded on my Nana’s left thigh,

back pressed into her breasts,

my face lightens as my Nana

outlines my features

with her non acrylic, ruby red nails.

As she divides my nose

and swipes across my mustache line,

I smell the polish solvents

and feel calcium thickening her round filed nails.

I close my eyes when she swoops

up my cheekbones, around the frame of my face,

to glide back down each eye,

balancing her elongated fingers on their tips.

Midway through my second eye,

my Nana’s hand stops.

One eye closed, one open, I peer up to see

both of hers glided into sleep.

I whisper, Nana wake up

and she continues

drawing my face, opening her eyes like

she was only resting them.

I lean further into my Nana,

only moving as she steadily breathes.

Held to her body, her left arm

wrapped around my belly,

only moving when I breathe.

She stops again,

palm sprawled across my lips.

I look up to her quiet face,

distinct underneath cinnamon cranberry hair.

I could sway my face,

to alert her she has fallen asleep again,

but I close my eyes too,

falling asleep in my Nana’s arms.


Stephanie Cressler is a Junior Hotelie, minoring in Creative Writing. She currently resides in Mississippi, but has had the privilege to move all over the world.