Water is the mother of my reflection
On its surface I see a complexion browned by the Caribbean sun
I see crooked eyebrows and uneven lips
I see hair that spills across broad shoulders, covered in moles
I see a head that holds dreams which will later unfurl across my landscape of white sheets
I see an arrangement of features that are haphazard
I see a face that resembles my grandmother’s
Water is the mother of my reflection
Its rhythmic undulations hypnotize me
Its depth cocoons me
Its freshness cleanses me
On its surface I see a girl learning to think of her body as home
I see a face learning to love itself
Jasmine Cheek is a New York-based writer, photographer, and future MFA candidate in Creative Writing. In 2024, she began writing on Substack under the pseudonym Girl Genius, where she shares personal essays and fictional fragments. She has been featured in Dreamworldgirl Magazine, HerStry, Honey Literary Magazine, and more. She hoards books and vintage cameras with enthusiasm and feels most herself by the sea, proudly identifying as a "water baby." She can be reached at jasminecheek001@gmail.com or found on Instagram @jasmineecheek.