POETRY

White, Twice

Content Advisory

This poem depicts suicide and grief.

Aporia publishes imaginative writing. The voices in our contributors' work are literary personae, and should not be read as statements about the writer's own life.

If you are struggling, support is free and confidential: Tele-MANAS 14416 (India) or AASRA +91 98204 66726. Outside India, findahelpline.com lists services by country.

I've touched the warm snowflakes
falling on my fingertips,
blooming into brief, fragile flowers.
I've touched the cold sunlight
falling into my eyes,
turning into threads that pull me forward.

Among the grass and trees, stubborn seeds sink and wait.
That sun, so distant from me,
still melts what I thought would stay.
It carries off my sleepless words—
who still believes in fairy tales
whose endings arrive on time?

Tall buildings come down,
crushing the snail that has just set out.
People's bodies rise again,
carrying a star that keeps receding.

Brave human, to resist, leap from the tall buildings.
Some grieve.
No mourning.
Even those who loved them don't understand
how they could rot.

Because they grew up among the moisture.
Because they hoped the dreamland after death would be easier to reach.

No flowers bloom after the pen is laid down.
The white flags those people once held high
become white cloths draped over them.
H
About the Author Hannah Zeng Shenzhen Hong Kong Pui Kiu College Longhua Xinyi School, Shenzhen · China

Hannah Zeng is a writer from Shenzhen Hong Kong Pui Kiu College Longhua Xinyi School, China.

Share this piece
Contributor card for White, Twice

Download the share card for this piece and post it — tag @aporia.lit to help others find their way here.

Ready-to-use caption

Something new to sit with. “White, Twice” by Hannah Zeng is now live on Aporia. Read it here: aporialit.com/piece-white-twice.html #aporia #aporialit #literaryjournal #youngwriters

Download card
Keep Reading

More from Aporia

Full Archive →