Amelia Yuan

unpacking

she has something to say about the snow
it’s so gray, and painted by the feet of people
who only know to walk away
she perceives a foreign belly
that now gets to hold her daughter
a wet sky that kisses my brow
i think only of tomorrow
and pull my gloves off with my teeth
to scrabble for car keys
i say wanting is a state i never liked
to be in anyway and
i wouldn’t know
how it feels to be alone
here until i am
alone

Amelia Yuan is a high school senior from the Bay Area. She is an alumna of the Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference, the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio, and The Adroit Journal’s Summer Mentorship Program. Her work has been recognized by the National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and The New York Times.