Lost in Translation by Sophia Zhang

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Lost in Translation
by Sophia Zhang

I am a daughter of yellow clay. Of white ribs.
Of two worlds cleaved through their middle.
Once, I undressed myself in the mirror
And self-inflicted pressure until maps of
Plum purple and jade green and dried-date red
Covered half my flesh.
How I yearn for the Mandarin that used to float
Out of my mouth, as natural as breathing.
Now, speaking its cemented syllables is like capturing smoke.
Now, I undress myself in the mirror,
And only see half a person.
Somewhere in the muddled transition from East to West,
I’ve lost the flesh and bones of my ancestors, buried
The culture I once knew in an oceanic grave.

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