Page 111 of The Warrior
“The last person tonight is you, Solo." Kya smiled to the oldest of the boys at the school. Solomon reminded me of a younger version of Magni: strong, tall, fierce, with blue eyes and blond hair.
“Do Ihaveto?” he asked and shot a sideways glance at Willow, who sat a few seats from him.
“Yes, you have to.” Archer pointed to a spot at the end of the table where the other children had read out their poems.
“Can’t I stay in my seat? Mila got to sit down.”
Archer raised an eyebrow. “Unless you have a broken leg like Mila, you don’t get to sit. Go, Solo!”
The fourteen-year-old boy made his way to the end of the table and a few of the oldest girls shot long glances in his direction.
He shifted his balance and rubbed his nose. “Ehm, okay, this poem is about light versus darkness. It’s called Truth, and this is how it goes.”
Darkness:
Turn your back on the light, you’ll see me in the shadows.
Let me educate you and open your eyes to the cruel truth of this world.
It will overwhelm you with sadness and make you feel depressed.
Ican show youthetruth.
Light:
Turn your back on the shadows, you’ll feel my warm light shine in your face.
Let me educate you and open your eyes to see the beauty of this world.
It will inspire you and make you want to share your happiness with others.
Ican show youthetruth.
Both:
Look up at the sun or down at the shadows.
We both show the truth, because we are the truth.
Depressed or inspired, the choice is yours.
Wecan show youatruth.
Everyone clapped and Kya asked. “That was a very deep poem, Solo. Can you tell us who wrote it?”
“Some kid.”
“Do you remember the name of the kid?”
“Nope. But I’m sure it was a girl.”
“Okay, but can you tell us what the poem was about?”
“Some shit about looking up or down.”
Kya raised a brow. “That’s your analysis?”
“Yeah. It’s stupid. Lightness and darkness can’t talk – it makes no sense.”
