LEVITATE

The poem “America’s Child” by Emalie Anne Marquez deftly portrays the struggles and alienation of youth from immigrant families in America, a topic I personally relate to. As I read the poem, I immediately felt the rhythm of each line, as if each word was perfectly designed to fit the next. This rhythm paired with the speaker’s strong voice shows the power and emotion behind its message.

Marquez writes: “But what if your eyes held the depth of darkness? / But what if your hair echoed the void? / And your skin wore the hue of night?” These lines echo with rich imagery and introduce the question at the heart of the poem: What makes someone American? Youth who are born citizens but still have to deal with others questioning if they are actually “American” may become confused and start to question their own identities. Through its incredible imagery and questioning tone, the poem leaves the reader with the ultimate question: What does it mean to be American, anyway?

Karla Hernández, Contributing Poetry Editor & Contributing Art Editor