The Spear
In his poem "So I was a Coffin," Mena introduces the image of a spear. The speaker tells us that "they said you are a spear. So I was a spear." In this sense, the spear represents the expectations placed on soldiers to be brave, courageous, strong and uncomplaining. As Mena shows, however, the reality was very different.
A Child
This symbol can be contrasted with the previous image of a spear used in the same poem. While a spear is strong, upright, and made of metal, the image of a child instead suggests vulnerability. The speaker suggests that the realities of warfare causes a spear to lean into a man, and a man to lean into a child.
Glass and Shrapnel
In "Hero's Prayer," the speaker wishes that he will die an honourable death. Part of his conception of this honorable death is where "glass and shrapnel embed into my skin." Here, these items represent the idea that the soldier was fighting before he died, rather than something less dignified.
Loss
Loss is a key motif and can be seen in most of the poetry in this collection. Mena emphasizes the loss of warfare in order to illustrate the difficulties of taking part in warfare as a soldier, and also to emphasize the extreme losses of life during combat.
The Tree
In "Baring the Trees," Mena introduces a haunting image of a tree on which "the dead hang from the dead like leaves." This symbolizes the great number of deaths the speaker has experienced, which manifests itself in this dark image.
