By James Zheng, First-time Poet Musing on Heroism

Those brilliant epics we read depict

A thousand invincible images

Of our hero’s loneliness and supremacy,

Making this so-called hero receive homage.

With his solitary expression

And his firm, mighty, absolute strength,

No one sees his depression beneath the surface.

This reality, the idealistic standard of how our heroes should act,

will never change.

We call them heroes because of their immense capabilities, but in calling them

Heroes, we forget to call them humans as well.

If a hero is hesitant, if he is fettered and burdened with useless thoughts of

Family, friends, love; these are weaknesses;

they are the things he must guard in his heart.

What must be guarded is weakness.

In order to be king, he must freeze his heart and soul;

he must become cold.

“I hold my sword, but I can’t embrace you.

When I drop my sword, I can’t protect you.”*

Editor: Leo Milmet
*from the anime Bleach