Food and Beverage: “White Boy in a Parallel Universe” by Karen Zheng

White Boy in a Parallel Universe

it is morning you wake 
to your alarm for elementary school
you put on smart light khakis and a white 
polo shirt in the mirror you ruffle your blonde hair 
as you brush your teeth your eyes appear a bit more 
blue today the smell of rich melted cheese

drifts upstairs your mother is packing you lunch
in your superman lunchbox youve told her many times 
that you dont want mac n cheese youve not told her 
how the kids make fun of the slight sour smell
what the frick is cheese

jack eats spoiled food la la la la la

them and their banh mis rice 
and soup and crooked laughter you thank 
your mom for the food stuff a piece of white bread 
into your mouth and rush to the bus your butt clenches 
at the cold leather as you sit you hold superman close
afraid someone will smell its contents 
you are plotting where to throw out your lunch
another day another empty stomach

About Karen Zheng

Karen Zheng is a first-generation, queer, Chinese-American. Her poetry has been featured in Emerson Review, Sine Theta Magazine, Honey Literary, The Wave, and elsewhere. She is a Breadloaf Writers’ Conference Contributor in 2022 and a Roots. Wounds. Words Poetry Fellow in 2023. In her free time, she hosts the Mx. Asian American podcast and Tucked in Bed podcast. Find out more about her at https://www.karenzheng.com/.