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Calling Wolverine
by Kristina Woodhill
pre dawn
sunrise selects an understated blush
quiet begins to stir its noisy sister
siblings share waking whispered groans,
rumpled feathered owls blink from covers,
dads firmly flick this day's switch
a clock remembers its numbered chores,
palms press cold ignition keys, metal marries metal
dizzy wheels begin spinning miles of interwoven memories
super heroes
hopped, bounded, flew, sticky-finger webbed, spun like tornadoes
onto yellow waiting school bus rocket-to-adventure
thor leading with his walking stick
hammer in disguise, honor flickers
lightning up and down his decalled winter sleeve
superman, cape today a warm neck scarf,
thick-framed glasses control his x-ray vision,
lunchbox holds comics meant for today's swap
batman, fumbling with his woolen cap,
bat ears always problematic,
driver's license still miles away
wonder woman, no mask needed,
taller than her twelve years,
grace sits on her country-bred lasso-strong shoulders
green lantern, spider man, invisible woman,
hulk struggles through yellow buses' awkward folding door,
oracle only slightly limping finds a seat close-by
iron man, self assured,
a mom might say cocky
a bus driver might assign him the front seat
dizzy wheels spinning miles of intersecting memories
except the clock stopped in shock at 7:36
friendly chatter shattered into one long scream
rock paper dump truck, rock paper ripping metal
games out the window, and where was wolverine?
another intersection garden
sprouting winter roses
plastic stems bred perfectly
to grip the frozen ground
12/10/2013
Author's Note: Intersection of Happy Valley and Deer Flat Road, Dec. 5th, 7:36 a.m., one eleven year old dead, others injured, our community still making sense of it. As a former school bus driver, this is the nightmare that haunts, always in the back of the mind. Wolverine – super hero with “a healing factor that allows him to recover from virtually any wound, disease, or toxin at an accelerated rate.”
Posted on 12/10/2013
Copyright © 2024 Kristina Woodhill
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Joe Cramer on 12/10/13 at 05:06 PM .... as always, excellent.... |
| Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 12/10/13 at 08:40 PM If only the world (with real comic book superheroes) were that simple. I think we all yearn to be like Wolverine and have our loved ones the same way; invincible. Excellent poem Kris. Your Author's Note clarifies a lot, however on first read (without the AN) I found it still to be a great poem. |
| Posted by Veronica Phoenics on 12/10/13 at 10:16 PM great tragedy, my heart goes out to all in your community. But also, your poem is absolutely brilliant. |
| Posted by Laura Doom on 12/31/13 at 07:01 PM Brought me down to earth with a slap--you have the hands and heart to make it a significant event, and a mind that gives it back to life... |
| Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 01/20/14 at 05:35 PM You take a critical event, dress it in extraordinary verse, and expand its significance. |
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