Elena Zhang

The Immigrant

She makes stars
out of paper and leaves
them in meltwater
for the children.
She threads scarcity
into apples. Language
grows in her mouth
but the doctor knows
it is beautiful.
What does she carry
with her into
this strange country?
Only one mountain,
and a piece of paper
tucked into her lung. 

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Elena Zhang is a Chinese American writer and mother living in Chicago. Her work can be found in HAD, The Citron Review and X-R-A-Y, among other publications. She is a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominee, and was selected for Best Microfiction 2024 and 2025.