Tonight's Poet Corner: Excelsior

Excelsior
by Belinda Roddie

My world was full of superheroes, kid -
the kind that could deflect metal from
their chests, the kind that could punch
Nazis and not get caught up in some sort
of self-righteous debate about it. The kind

that wore skin-tight suits and threw shields
around like frisbees straight out of Hell.
Heroes who stood up for something we all
believed in. My world was beautiful, and bright,
and brimming with ideals. Now it's my

responsibility to pass those stories on
to you - because the man who started it all
has taken a rocket ship to his new homeworld
among the stars, and we live in a society
that wants to purge us like we're X-Men,

or discredit us like we're Spiderman, or
antiquate our values like we're part of
Captain America's quest for a freer future.
I want to remind you that your life is not
exempt from challenges, but it is never

too late to go onwards and upwards. And if all
else fails - if half the universe dissolves in front of
your eyes, or if you glimpse Iron Man descending
from the Milky Way above your head - it may
be time to become an Avenger yourself.

Rest in peace, Stan Lee. And thank you for bringing us heroes.

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