“The First Swing” is a poem about being a scythe included before the first story in Gleanings. It was written by Joelle Shusterman.
Inspiration behind the poem[]
"Hello, scythe fans! I am excited to share with you my inspiration behind “The First Swing”! I have always been fascinated with the transformation an apprentice undergoes to become ordained and their transition into scythehood. When I wrote “The First Swing” I wanted to capture the experiences scythe’s face, emphasizing the emotional pain, the desensitization, and the struggle of identity that so many of my dad’s amazing characters go through. I was thinking of Scythe Rand’s early days while creating this poem—which made me think of Ayn Rand’s Anthem. Not in any ideological way, but in terms of the the switch from the collective to “I”. In my piece, “You” reflects upon the isolation that comes with scythehood, and the transition to “We” is the hidden autonomy among scythes and their duties. Expanding upon the Scythe World was such a fun experience! My father continues to be a great mentor and inspiration to me. I am so thrilled to have contributed to his anthology and I can't wait for readers' interpretations of not only my poem but the entire collection." — Joelle Shusterman author of “The First Swing”[1]