Hero

By Rod Parchman

It doesn’t seem like so many years ago, when me and my brother would race downstairs to watch our favorite super hero up early Saturday morning pajamas still on King Vitamin cereal pourin’ cause that’s all they could afford then, and I remember being fascinated by a certain character who could scale tall buildings and capture villains, but I wasn’t aware then, but now it pales in comparison to the man who could raise children as a matter of fact he would put us all on his back and carry the whole house I was too young so I couldn’t see it until now, cause while sitting on the floor Indian style the only thing I ever wanted on my back was the big towel because with great power comes great responsibility and Pops would always respond according to his ability but what’s funny is that he never seemed to be possessed by anything radioactive then, but on Sundays when the radio was active it was obvious that he was possessed I could tell how he’d react to hymns because he’d be giving praise, though none of his powers came from the sun’s rays they came from a belief that the Son was raised and he had grace you could tell by the way his sons were raised, but I must say that even though he had the ability to see my mistakes from days away he was just Dad and I was looking for someone draped in a cape to save the day besides, he couldn’t even fly but when he changed into his suit and tie he became the apple of my Moms eye I can’t t lie he was fly, but as time went by I grew to understand, that Superman wasn’t truly a super man just a man in a suit who without his suit I assume was only a man, yet they would brand him the man of steel, well my Dad never had to save the earth to prove his worth yet he was a man, still and no secret identity could keep him from identifying his sole purpose to provide and we were never denied because he recognized his role cause true heroes would always appear just in the nick of time of and I admit that mine wasn’t a masked avenger bringing justice, he was Dad, and he gladly give all he had because it was, just us, plus he would move at the speed of light just to make sure that we never knew a dark night and even though this was the norm, I still marveled at the way this iron man would protect us in the storm, but what I didn’t know was that there’d ever be a time when I wouldn’t look up to the sky for a savior but instead look up to a guy that I favor, and if only he could’ve passed down his traits like he passed down his face maybe I would’ve had the strength to hold my family together, but I tried, cause it was instilled inside your will to fight for my home but Dad I’m your son, so why can’t I shine on my own, I don’t have your strength I’m certain that’s why I’m being crushed under the weight of these burdens, but if I had the ability to go back in time I would try and I would fly I would fly back to 2016 as fast as a jet to save you and I would press, and press, and press, and press, and press on your chest until you came to, (Dad, please don’t die!) but he took his last breath while I was begging him to stay and was up, up and away.