Tag: Marvel

#PoeticAnswers 11 – Who Is That Red Man In The Bathroom?

“Who is that red man in the bathroom?”
My child asked.
Her voice trembling with fear.
Her small hand wrapped around
The edges of her pyjama top.

“There is no man in the bathroom”
I assured her.
I took her hand in mine,
Shaking like a leaf,
As cold as ice.

As we walked the dark hallway
As we adventured back to her room,
She stopped by the bathroom door.
Her eyes locked on the metal handle,
Stained with blood.

“You’re seeing things darling”
I nudged her on,
But it was too late.
She reached out,
Then she screamed.

I pulled her back and held her close,
I prayed she thought this was a dream.
But her little mind was too far gone,
I can’t imagine what she thought,
I don’t want to.

“He’s in there!
His eyes are white,
I think he’s dead,
He’s dead dad,
He’s just hanging there!”

I brought her face to mine,
Those sweet innocent eyes,
Tarnished, wading in pools of
Tears and blood.
They were too young for this.

“It’s okay, I promise!
I just cut myself shaving”
I prayed she’d believe me but
If I can’t convince myself,
How can I convince her?

She fought my grasp
And tore open the door,
Casting shadow on the floor.
Clutching at empty shapes
In a cocktail of hope and dread.

“He’s here daddy”
But her hands found nothing,
And the shadows that had been cast,
Turned to doubt
With a flick of the lightswitch.

I saw those eyes,
Those tear-stained, petrified eyes.
It won’t happen tonight,
It won’t happen tomorrow,
She’ll never know.

“There’s no one here honey,
Now go back to bed.”
As I tried to assuage
The thoughts in her head,
As I tucked her in, and kissed her goodnight.

And as she slept,
I slunk back to fix my mistake.
I closed the door and took a step back,
Ready to face the truth,
I stared at the mess I left behind.

It was my shadow, my second skin.
Red for the blood,
Black for the bruises.
I raged at myself and my stupidity,
I don’t want to be her nightmares

Maybe one day she’ll understand,
I’m doing this for her,
So she can have a better world,
So she can be safe.
She must never know who I am.

Question from Rebecca L. from Facebook

#PoeticAnswers 5 – If Every Marvel Hero Went Up Against Every DC Superhero, Which Side Would End Up Winning?

The soldiers held their rank
Staring across the Incursion.
Staring into the void.
All was silent

The anger rose like a tidal wave.
As the warriors who could fly took to the air
A tsunami of capes and energy
Filled the skies on both sides.

One side held an infinite power
And had an army the size of several small countries.
The most dangerous stood near to the front line,
Impressive and horrifying in their mutated glory.

Behind them stood a legion of heroes
Who swore to avenge and protect Earth with their might.
Led by patriotic duty, and enforced with intelligence
With an iron garrison at their backs.

On the other side,
52 of the strongest beings from
Humanity and the galaxy
And from further beyond.

They had speed on their side,
And truth, gadgets and feminism.
Morality was their strong point,
Their foes had iron, but they had steel.

The soldiers held their rank
Staring across the Incursion.
Staring into the void.
All was silent.

Then Superman and the Flash said
“Hold my beer”
And that was the end of the matter.