Super?I met a superhero
while I was in a bind.
He was really super strong
and very super kind.
He said he had two super kids
and a lovely super wife.
And they had a super dog
to complete their super life.
He told me all about
the super things he’d done.
He’d saved the world
five hundred times…
once using just his thumb.
For hours, while I dangled,
he spun his super tales.
I listened to his bragging;
turning minnows into whales.
It seemed he’d rescued everyone
that ever had been in peril.
He’d been honored in a thousand towns
for being such a hero.
He said he was the real deal,
and not a super fake.
But he couldn’t save me right away
because he was on a break.
Barbie Angell
© 2012
He told me all about
ReplyDeletethe super things he’d done.
He’d saved the world
five hundred times…
once using just his thumb.
My favorite stanza, though I love the whole poem.
It's such a funny poem, and at the same time (as in your other work) there's that underlying pain too; I'm thinking right now of some times when I've been burned by a false promise held out by someone else. But why wait around to be rescued, anyway? And possibly put the burden of 'savior' on someone.
In any case, some of the most startling moments are finding out that people who seem super duper strong on the surface are crumbling inside -- not the case of people faking it just to puff themselves up, but when they're genuinely convinced that if they stop being perfectly perfect for an instant they and everyone around them will fall apart.
Anyway, I've got a lot of catching up to do on this blog, and it was a treat to find this poem here :)
hi there. :) thank you so much for the comments. i always enjoy your perspective.
ReplyDeleteyou're absolutely right. there is an underlying theme of not only being let down by false promises, but of being a person who waits around for help rather than seeking a solution themselves. granted, the illustration makes it clear that this kid couldn't really get himself out of the ropes, but it was intended as subtext originally. i hadn't really thought of the burden of "savoir", but i do completely agree. i also love your perspective on the possible reasons the superhero might not be helping. i'm doing 12 children's shows at schools this month and your thoughts really make me think this poem might be a good one for discussion.
thank you again!