Tales of Hero and Villain

By Yasmin Zayed

Discussed: guns, death, violence

A perfect town’s decaying world is set in stone; a world unconsented to. It’s not the easiest knowing our fate stands between the rich and corrupt, or that there was never any difference at all.

Today I saved the world again 
I’ll say deep breath and count to ten
Perfect smile in heaven send. 
Graceful poise my hand that waves
my image refracts onto every page
in between those history books 
in between those classical nooks
I am found.
oh how lonely it must be 
to stay as sharp as one could see
all alone, safe, and sound
may the world rest peacefully. 


x Hero


“sorry :/”

i apologize 
here’s my apology 
it wasn’t real, nor did it comfort me 
sorry i blew up your house 
sorry i won cat and the mouse 
oh my sincerest to you and your dearest
oh sh*t i blew up your spouse (my bad).


Hero delivers their speech at the UN press conference following the incident (2021) This is what the audience hears.


“Escapism”

why couldn’t i just leave it alone 
you know the saying, when you’re in rome 
but everyone knows that this isn’t fair 
the feeling is hard, too great to bare 
i’ve got no time, none left to spare
we’re in agony, this is a tragedy 
why won’t they just let us go
it’s a disparity, this is a clarity 
you know the saying, when you’re in rome
kill and deceive, fight for your home 


Villain becomes a witness, but in today’s society don’t we all?

“on the ground”
 
nobody think 
nobody move 
oh shit it’s them 
let’s just press snooze 
we can just stay 
turning our backs
they’ll get away 
amnesiac. 


Account by anonymous 

“A pep talk”

on your mark, you should get ready 
it’ll get dark, keep your hands steady 
follow through, see to the end 
finish your coup, fight and defend 
gold, god, and glory, but here’s where you stand 
blatant outlawry, on my command.

Kagami; the looking glass


“Synchronicity” 


a pen to paper 
                                   — a gun to the head 

a burst fire hydrant
                                    — they left me for dead

a critical ache, a burning retire 

                                    — this feeling of dread, just won’t expire 

the justice unfolds, the one i require 

                                    — nothing to lose
maybe my way  
                                  — they led me astray

                 Just walk away.


To be continued…

Girls Write Now On the Other Side of Everything: The 2023 Anthology

Do you know what it’s like to communicate with your family across a salty ocean’s divide? Do you want the sun and moon to enter your home with stories written in embers? Do you seek voices that will punctuate the darkness? Welcome to the other side of everything. It’s the other side of silence, the other side of childhood, the other side of hate, the other side of indifference, it’s the other side of sides, where the binary breaks down. It’s a new paradigm, a destination, a different perspective, a mindset, a state of openness, the space between the endless folds in your forehead, hopes for tomorrow, and reflections on the past. This anthology of diverse voices is an everything bagel of literary genres and love songs, secrets whispered in the dark of night, conversations held with ancestors under the sea. 

READ ON THE OTHER SIDE

VISIT ANTHOLOGY LIBRARY

Process

The piece “Tales of Hero and Villain” follows a comic book–style collection of poems discussing the integrity, or lack thereof, in modern-day politics. It follows Hero, a Captain America–inspired superhero, who abuses his power and reputation. As a figurehead of this universe, Hero amasses a public platform awarded by government officials who look, act, and think just as Hero does. When the wealthy politicians are unmasked for their corrupt acts—opting to build empires on the backs of working class citizens.

Hero, unaware of his privilege, is met with Villain, a common teenager from New York. Villain easily becomes the symbol for the voice of ordinary citizens, breaking laws that in fact oppress rather than assist. The piece discusses human rights and social justice, and reverses the characteristics of the ordinary antagonist and protagonist. The process is inspired by both Captain America and the world of Marvel as a whole. A surge of the comic-based movies result in violence caused by the so-called heroes. With this, the movie tends to introduce these decisions as necessity—the only way out. My belief, watching the plethora of cars, countries, and buildings crash, is that those who say there was only one route are those who have the privilege of doing so.