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The World's Greatest Hero

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Originally published: 10th October 2020

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

This poem was placed 1st in the "A Brian Strand RHYME ME" contest sponsored by Brian Strand (Judged 12th September 2021)

He stepped inside his rocket ship then blasted off to space. He overtook his nemesis to clinch the Grand Prix race. He dived beneath the deep blue seas when his submarine submerged. He stopped the speeding train before the railway lines converged. He flew the plane near to the ground then looped it in the sky. He stood on top of Everest and jumped and didn't die. He fought off several hungry sharks then rowed towards the shore. He bravely drove his Sherman tank to help us win the war. He stepped inside the Fort Knox safe having mastered all its locks. Yes, ‘He’ was me when I was small - and I loved that cardboard box.

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Sam Kauffman

Date: 3/16/2023 10:41:00 AM

Absolutely delightful Gary! Imagination to take you anywhere!!! What a precious picture of childhood fantasy in couplets and rhyme! So often childhood is framed by rhyme. Now we are blessed that your imagination takes us to the seashore, town squares and cafes! What a gift! I do love your poems and always look forward to experiencing them in a unique and delightful way. Congratulations! Cheers!

Gary Radice
Date: 3/16/2023 10:58:00 AM

Thank you Sam. I often look back to playtimes and wonder whether my imagination would have been so lively had we had mobile phones and hundreds of channels in my day. Thanks for your great comments. Cheers - Gary

Ann Peck

Date: 3/14/2023 5:47:00 PM

Gary, That's so sweet and precious. At first, I thought it was about Superman, but little-boy you made it perfect! Congratulations!

Gary Radice
Date: 3/15/2023 1:31:00 AM

Hi Ann. Thank you and yes, I planned to plant the idea of Superman into reader's minds to set up the 'kicker' at the end. I'm really pleased you like it. Cheers - Gary

Sotto Poet

Date: 3/14/2023 5:33:00 AM

Lovely and so well-penned poem, Gary. Congratulations on your contest win.

Gary Radice
Date: 3/14/2023 9:15:00 AM

Thank you so much. It's a poem that's two and a half years old now but I have a soft spot for it. I'm really glad you like it. Thanks for the read. Cheers - Gary

Speaks Volumes

Date: 8/10/2022 3:16:00 AM

Oh Gary, my hope is that children of this current generation still have such wonderful imaginations. I fear that cardboard box will be dumped into a recycling bin, and never become a submarine or a hot air balloon, and be replaced by an I pad, that robs its young owner of the wonderful adventures in your beautiful poem.

Gary Radice
Date: 8/10/2022 3:28:00 AM

Thank you Wendy for your beautiful words. Back in the long hot summers of my childhood I taught myself how to think & play whereas today I fear kids are taught what to think and play. :) Cheers - Gary

Indiana Shaw

Date: 8/21/2021 4:33:00 PM

Awww, love it, Gary, I dived in wondering just who was the greatest hero in the world, of course it is you, and what a wonderful tale you tell of your heroic exploits, well gel, the best fun I ever had was jumping off the wardrobe using an umbrella onto the bed, enuff said . . . : /

Gary Radice
Date: 8/22/2021 12:10:00 AM

Thanks so much Ms Indiana Poppins :) I remember a presenter of a now defunct young kids' TV show 'Play School here in the UK explaining that when he was first interviewed for his job he was just given a big cardboard box and met with a wall of silence by those interviewing him...he let his imagination run wild..Cheers - Gary

Christuraj Alex

Date: 8/15/2021 2:05:00 AM

Why to negative people mind clings

Gary Radice
Date: 8/15/2021 2:40:00 AM

Hi Christuraj Thanks for reading. I have to hold my hands up and admit in this instance that I'm not clear as to what you mean..but I'm all ears :) Cheers - Gary

Janice Canerdy

Date: 12/1/2020 6:20:00 AM

Nostalgia at its best, Gary--vividly descriptive of the child's imagination! Made me smile. Janice

Gary Radice
Date: 12/1/2020 7:28:00 AM

Thank you Janice! :) I never did grow up. :) Cheers - Gary

Old Buck

Date: 11/20/2020 1:06:00 PM

Gary: Now I know what a time machine does. It takes you back 75 years to relive things you wouldn't want to change. Thank you for sharing with all of us on the soup. oldbuck

Gary Radice
Date: 11/20/2020 1:28:00 PM

Time machine..back to a time when a child was encouraged to - or indeed had to - use his / her imagination :) Cheers - Gary

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 10/14/2020 5:46:00 PM

What fun for children there is to be had from sitting in a cardboard box. Fantastic imagination, great read. Belle

Gary Radice
Date: 10/15/2020 1:55:00 AM

Thanks Belle! Yes, who needed toys when you could improvise? With a cardboard box, the world was my crab stick..or oyster.. or whatever :) Cheers - Gary

Lonna Blodgett

Date: 10/12/2020 8:25:00 AM

There is nothing to compare in truthfulness, free expression, and human longing than the mind of a child. It like your beautiful poem depicts is a journey we should all partake in regardless of our age. Love it!

Gary Radice
Date: 10/12/2020 10:09:00 AM

I couldn't agree more about the mind of a child. Thank you for your comments.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 10/11/2020 1:18:00 PM

hey this is VERY clever. I sure hope it gets a win for the great show of imagination.

Gary Radice
Date: 10/11/2020 1:37:00 PM

Hi Andrea - It got an HM so that was nice. Thanks for your comments. Cheers- Gary

Geoffrey Brewer

Date: 10/11/2020 9:16:00 AM

Oh! To be able to create such realities from nothing but a box. A delightful poem in praise of a lost ability (perhaps not lost for a poet). I loved reading it, especially the kicker of the last verse.

Gary Radice
Date: 10/11/2020 9:31:00 AM

Thank you Geoffrey :) I agree about lost abilities and really do believe children today are taught WHAT to think and not HOW. Cheers - Gary