Elena Zhang

@ezhang77

Writer | Chicago | Work in The Offing, X-R-A-Y, Wigleaf + more | Pushcart Prize and BotN nom | Best Microfiction ‘24, '25, '26

931 Folgt1.238 Follower1.538 Posts

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Elena Zhang@ezhang77· 25d

Stop scrolling and post two characters who bring you happiness

Cartoon image of Griffin and David from Blank Check podcast

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· 25d

Playing around with watercolor pastels

Orange lilies with green background drawn with watercolor pastels

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· Jul 6

This short story collection by @seanbirnie.bsky.social is so good! Such delicious horror. I had to read “Like a Zip” from between my fingers!

Cover of book, I Would Haunt You If I Could by Sean Padraic Birnie

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· Jul 5

A poem of mine, “Keep in Touch” (dusie.blogspot.com/2026/06/tues...) #smallpoemsunday @tomsnarsky.bsky.social

Keep in touch
When summer ends
I took the Bus it smelled Of bone and
Birth the first Day you lett
Me I was
Drinking desire so
Long like memory
Like teeth

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· Jul 4

🇺🇸 A poem for today (Originally published in @theshorepoetry.bsky.social)

The Immigrant
She makes stars
out of paper and leaves them in meltwater
for the children.
She threads scarcity
into apples. Language grows in her mouth but the doctor knows
it is beautiful.
What does she carry with her into
this strange country?
Only one mountain, and a piece of paper tucked into her lung.

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· Jul 2

Homemade ice cherry matcha latte

Glass of green match, oat milk, cherry syrup, with ice cubes, next to plant in decorative mushroom pot

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· Jun 28

Incredible mango sticky rice sundae from Vaca’s (completely vegan)

Yellow mango sorbet on top of sticky rice in a brown cup

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· Jun 28

One of mine in Afterimages #smallpoemsunday @tomsnarsky.bsky.social

Beyond the sky is another sky
To go to space you must dance in fire and catch snowflakes on your tongue. I went through a cloud and saw a field of
tulips go out of frame.
When the airplane sang an aria about houses that are
waterfalls. Do you like to burn the marshmallow and
taste the dimpled scars?
There is value in collision.
In the kiss of sound.

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· Jun 24

ICYMI, a midsummer inspired micro in FlashFlood

FlashFlood
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Saturday, 13 June 2026
'Swimming Lesson' by Elena Zhang
Imagine you are a fern. Imagine you bloom a flower. Dip your eyes into the river during the white night. When the black sun rises, burn down your childhood home. The whole town will worship you as you dance laps around the bonfire. Kick your legs and forget the one who gave you eyes. Did you hold your breath? Please, tell me. Who are you?

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· Jun 22

I’ve got a tiny micro at the very cool @plaguecircus.bsky.social! plaguecircuspress.com/my-suitcase-...

My suitcase spills by Elena Zhang
My suitcase spills out onto the floor as soon as I step inside the doorway.
This is not my house.

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· Jun 16

This poetry collection is so my jam

Cover of book called The Witch: A Play by Thera Webb

THE WITCH
We use many forms of divination -
a knife in the ribs a glimmer of white,
a finger drawing in the frost -

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· Jun 14

Richard Brautigan #smallpoemsunday @tomsnarsky.bsky.social

VICKY SLEEPS WITH DEAD PEOPLE
Part 8
Vicky sleeps out in the woods with dead people but she always combs her hair in the morning.
Her parents don't understand her.
And she doesn't understand them.
They try. She tries. The dead people try. They will all work it out someday.

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· Jun 12

Exciting book mail from @malarkeybooks.bsky.social!

Books, including Sick Sad Queer by Ly Faulk, how to feel by Rachel King, Hole by s a viau, boxcutters by John Chrostek, Gloria patri by Austin Ross

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· Jun 7

One of mine in @bulbregion.bsky.social #smallpoemsunday @tomsnarsky.bsky.social

Paper Skin
My shadow can burn.
Young and beautiful stomach.
I dance my mouth in a circle.

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· May 31

One of mine in @burialmagazine.bsky.social #smallpoemsunday @tomsnarsky.bsky.social

Today I Won't Say
Goodbye
by Elena Zhang
The funeral in the train blares through tinted windows.
My broken feet sway powerfully to a stop. Dreaming stumbles down an
empty street. I remember my father drowning. It must have been hours.

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· May 30

Lake forever, me for now

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· May 25

My orchid bloomed again!!!

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· May 25

Honored to be include in Best Microfiction 2026 (out July 7)! Many thanks to @emergejournal.bsky.social and @bestmicrofiction.bsky.social!

Best Microfiction 2026 winner
Elena Zhang
“Do You Want to Become a Wolf”

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· May 24

One of mine in Afterimages @thirtywestph.com #smallpoemsunday @tomsnarsky.bsky.social

Willow Tree
The winter turned
hollow along my head.
I bent my neck, disturbing the fish. The water forgot
seasons, only that I was with bees.

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· May 23

Behold the mighty rhubarb galette

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· May 21

I KNOW this is a terrible placement but it’s our only option and you know what, it will make victory that much sweeter

Bird feeder on window half hidden by curtain across from brick building

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· May 20

Danniel Schoonebeek, Trebuchet

TELÉMAKOS
When you meet yourself
When you meet yourself
the weird upon
you old knife
the weird upon
you old knife
this fish-breeding
sea upon you
this fish-breeding
sea upon you
old knife & father
- old knife & father
with spume
in our beard
with spume
in our beard
you will know
which one of us gets filled
you will know
which one of us gets filled

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· May 17

One of mine in my latest chapbook, My Little Sister (above/ground press) #smallpoemsunday @tomsnarsky.bsky.social

Haunted Dinner Party
When I took
luscious constellations, the emptiness made my body.
My little sister is always taking my face.
The mirror took hours.
We all envied.

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· May 16

RHUBARB SEASON

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· May 13

Ode to Imani

Chicago piping plover sketched in watercolor pencil

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· May 10

One of mine in @bulbregion.bsky.social #smallpoemsunday @tomsnarsky.bsky.social

Parallel Universe
The tunnel delivers your mother into stars, breathless for a world that isn't. Darkness presses into pie.
You believe space is tiny.

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· May 10

My mom inspires so much of my writing. Love you, miss you.

Me and my mom at Inner Harbor in Baltimore

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· May 9

Lake forever geese for now

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· May 8

Happy to have a new micro at the very cool @somewordslit.bsky.social!! somewords.boards.net/thread/132/e...

The Most Beautiful Play
I was at the audition. The role was President. When I sang the national anthem, the judges stood up and clapped. They surrounded me like daughters. I was at the audition. The role was Mother. I cracked four of my bones so I could read the future. Weeping, the judges carried me to the mountain. I was at the audition. The role was God. "Birth yourself," the judges told me. I buried myself in stone. Roots grew from my fingertips. I was at the audition. There was no role.
"In the beginning," I wrote, "the universe was
apple good, and the judges loved me endlessly."

Elena Zhang@ezhang77· May 4

I’ve got some copies of my latest chapbook, My Little Sister! 10 poems about a fictional narrator and their sibling. DM me if you want a copy ($5 by PayPal)!