Alyssa Godwin

"SOLDIER." is another interpretative work from Acevedo's The Poet X, and the short-form poem packs a massive punch--beautifully encapsulating the ambivalence of the character it seeks to portray. This poem artfully mimics the aesthetic of Acevedo, a must-read for anyone, especially those who enjoyed The Poet X.

SOLDIER.

by Aman

How to explain

to a wall of iron

that it needn’t stand

for every battle?

How to explain

to a battle painting

that it’s made of

the same oils

The Birth of Venus

was?

Standing before

a collection of swords

all

pointed at me

How to explain

that I am not

something

to stand guarded against?