Yuyuan Huang

snake lips

I           have three tongues      they
slip over          each other like            snakes
like         shé[1]                      like          seh[2]
each one less               distinguished                        than the last

tongues slithering       across ocean   over sky
it is      years until they                       share a mouth
no wonder       my family is               snakelike
our tongues               are         forked

ama used to say           ai wu ji wu[3]     I love you
crows and all  but kindergarten no-heart             told me I was              
not       welcome here             I cried
crow tears       and woke wishing       for a better tongue    
I lost one                 tongue in the fire            it was
stolen          I want                              it back

yuh[4] is the language   of ghosts is           spice and salt
is loose strings           is wide grins      is foggy
blindfolds is        rice stalks           is rinsing pearls[5]
is                     family             is home

er[6] is the language      of grievers is  black rain
is an empress’                         bullets[7]            is someone
else’s star is                a bridge          across the galaxy[8]     
is a                               world               divided

three is the language   of greatness is             arcadia is
bitter       pride is fire               tinged trees is
dark dawn           is purple mountain              majesty
is                 freedom is           love

I am running  out                   of words
to tell               you                  I love you
can you           translate this  into another
goodbye?

[1] “snake” in Mandarin
[2] “snake” in Cantonese
[3] ancient Chinese proverb, literally meaning “if you love your house, love the crows on it too”
[4] “one” in Cantonese
[5] the tradition of washing rice
[6] “two” in Mandarin
[7] an old story about Empress Wu
[8] an old story about two lovers on opposite sides of the Milky Way

Yuyuan Huang is a young poet from the Boston area. Her work has previously been published in the Blue Marble Review, Paper Crane Journal, and the Ice Lolly Review, among others. She has been recognized by the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards since 2020. She is constantly searching for new wonders.