The Day I Died | Teen Ink

The Day I Died

November 7, 2008
By ZiXiang Zhang SILVER, Ridgewood, New York
ZiXiang Zhang SILVER, Ridgewood, New York
5 articles 0 photos 9 comments

I was born in death, blue lab coats, operation table, frantic commands;
The woman who made me, her fragile frame still as her heartbeat,
Long gone by my first cry.

The first week of my life, I was a miserable and wee little thing,
Suffocated by oxygen pumps and feeding tubes;
My frantic sobs trapped in that life support box.

My childhood was a lesson in extreme economy;
My mother told me that greens were worth more than pages of ink,
And clothing was a waste of cash because I grow out of them too fast.

School never made a difference for me;
Whether two plus three equaled five, the sores and scars won't go away.
Instead, I learned by cutting class,
Geography of the garbage alley, politics from the streets,
And attended a community college as the imminent drop-out type.

It was my 23nd birth day when I came home to a foreign town
Away my youth, the slaughterhouse of dreams.
I went into the business world, trying to leave it all behind,
But instead, ended up at a sullen office desk, with my unemployed mind.

I eventually married a lonely and divorced woman,
And made love to her when she remembered to ask.
We talked plenty: the bills, the furniture and the food,
But I never found out who she was, and we never had a child.

I grew old, aching with ambition,
And scorned the glances of pity and care.
I traveled the world in my modest apartment,
And became knowledgeable in many disciplines.

I learned physiology with my bedside mirror, and
Medicine with my different anti-depressants.
I picked up a foreign language, listening to my wife's grumbles,
And history through my fading memories.

I was born when I took my last breath,
Devoid of the worries, the pains, and the burden of my heart.
I've transcended into a greater existence;
Finally free in my morbid confinement.


The author's comments:
The inspiration for this poem...The idea for "The Day I Died" just came to me one day as I was riding the subway home from school. I was sitting in the corner in the crowded train during rush hour with my oversized bookbag and my iPod. I had looked around and stared at the people around me; masses of weary faces and slouched bodies. The next thing I knew, I took out a pen and paper and wrote this down.

Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 6 comments.


on Mar. 27 2010 at 5:31 pm
spitfire213 SILVER, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
8 articles 0 photos 55 comments

Favorite Quote:
In the devil's den i may be, so stab my heart and set me free.

Your work shows that you see life in a different way than everyone else. I like it. Good job.

on Nov. 9 2009 at 1:32 pm
lauren_b SILVER, Flower Mound, Texas
5 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If you love something set it free, if their meant to be with you, they'll come back"

I realy realy liked this poem alot alot!! I havent found anything in a really long time to catch my eye like this.. really good job..

on Nov. 7 2009 at 10:13 am
bluemagnet22 PLATINUM, Dearborn Hts, Michigan
24 articles 16 photos 644 comments

Favorite Quote:
You were born an origanal why die a copy?The secret to success is the consistency to pursue.To the world you may be one person,but to one person you may be the world.To receive the right answer,you must ask the right question.Don't worry be happy! :)

Wow! So much feeling n emotion

backspace said...
on Apr. 15 2009 at 11:03 am
I read A Cannibal in Love too :D It's pretty incredible how you could come up with this on a train..really good work too!

ZeeZee said...
on Nov. 21 2008 at 3:20 am
Thank you sylvia! I like to try different things, it makes poetry all the more exciting :D

on Nov. 20 2008 at 1:30 pm
Being the curious girl I am, I looked through you're writings after reading "A Cannibal In Love". An amazing piece of work. I know it's probably not a lot coming from a fourteen year old from Pennsylvania hahaha but it's different and explores what most adults deny. Amazing work!

Buh-Bye hun