my skin smells of wood smoke and tastes of salt
darkened on the outer edges and hair brightened by hours
spent walking beach edges or driving
across so many states
the heels of each foot are thick and cracking from the barefoot
or flipflop hikes

only now do small freckles sprinkle the bridge of my crooked nose
below the rings on each finger grows a callous
hardened by repetition

there are sores
bites scratched bloody
scrapes
burns
scabs
bruises and splinters covering
my legs and arms

I am in my summer body