To the man who stood so tall,
Who picked me up with every fall.
In life’s loud storm or silent pain,
You stood like shelter in the rain.
When nights were long, and hopes ran low,
You still believed and let it show.
You taught me how to fight, to stand,
To build my dreams with steady hand.
Behind your silence was endless care,
A love so deep, always there.
You gave up joys, ignored your need,
To see us smile, to help us succeed.
You worked in pain, you hid your fear,
And never let it interfere.
Each drop of sweat, each sleepless night,
You faced it all without respite.
You never asked for much or more,
Still gave us all you had in store.
You are the reason we can shine,
Your sacrifices shaped this life of mine.
Today I say what I feel each day,
But don’t always find the words to say:
You are my first love, my forever pride,
The one who’s always by my side.
I love you more than I can show,
More than you’ll ever truly know.
In every win, in every part,
You live within my grateful heart.
So here’s my soul, poured out today,
To thank you, Dad, in every way.
I pray for you in each life’s test,
May God grant you peace, love, and rest.
Amanda said I was a real “sketch”
I'm taking that as a compliment
Not some colourful cartoon character
Wonder what it represents
Hope I'm more like Superman
Than that scatter brain Daffy Duck
Old Dick Tracy kinda makes sense
Or Sylvester running amok
Can't be Blondie but maybe Dagwood
Maybe Terry of Pirates fame
Perhaps one of the Katzenjammer Kids
Or The Torch to set hearts aflame
Always thought I was more like Batman
With that fairy like Robin by his side
Actually wasn't cut out for super hero-ness
Seeing trouble I run away and hide
(Was really into comic strip characters
as a young 'un!)
ZAP: I declare that he was the best
ZONK: For no-one could beat Adam West
On TV most nights
Blue-grey vest and tights
THUNK: And a bat right there on his chest
KLUNK: Perhaps I was easily led
THUD: Accepting whatever was said
For then unlike now
His fists went KAPOW
SPLAAT: He wore two bat ears on his head
CRASH: Adam West impresses my gran
BANG: He’s much more than merely ‘Batman’
WALLOP: Kicks go BAM
THWACK: As fists go WHAM
CLANG: He’s Onomatopoeia Man
yeah …
we all feel so hopeless at times -
the end of our rope …
it’s part of our humanness
and our constant questioning of what role
we play in ‘Le Grand Dessein’ …
but here’s the thing -
we are ALL superheroes … that’s right
YOU … and this fool called ‘me’
we are champions of life
because we all possess two VERY powerful, utterly limitless, tools for living:
love … and imagination!
there are no bounds to either one -
they both transcend time, space, and the
oft’ chaotic confines of our ids …
they come in endless abundance, and with
no rules whatsoever!
they are yours and mine to explore without
restriction or constraint
and the more you use either one,
the more you’ll crave them …
I promise!
so, grab ahold of your superpowers -
(especially when hope seems lost)
wield them with kindness,
thoughtfulness,
and intent …
and see just how far they can
take you!
Copyright © Gregory Richard Barden, July 12, 2024
The comic book of our life will be riddled with plot twists yet our perseverance persists
Can't delete scenes that our history holds but can decide how the next chapter unfolds
Character development coming along as superpowers building up to make us strong
Choice in overcoming your origin story to rise up from the ashes and reclaim glory
The grand finale is breaking the link in the chain as things will never again be the same
But first a hero will be needed for your tale to begin so dust off your cape and step on in
my long grey trunk
and thick greying skin
is finally
wearing thin
nobody talks to me
and so what
if I whispered
from the rooftops
despite being repeatedly
murdered
I can clear a room
in seconds
I earned the points,
all the stares
and I'm damn sure
I'll use them
it's tricky
in a ceramic world
oh, and you're standing
on my cape
From inside I was dead and lost in the dark,
When I helped a little soul I felt up a spark,
I know I cannot change the whole world,
So I built a beautiful park.
In the darkest of night,
I know I cannot be the moonlight
So I hold a torch,
Try to be someone's guiding light.
In a world where history is written in books,
I try to write it in people's hearts and looks,
I know I cannot change the whole world,
So I try to change someone's small world.
So spread roses everywhere,
Kill the source of their despair,
You cannot be a superhero,
But you can be a superhero.
"The Amazing Spider-Man # 26 " by Zeb Wells John Romita Jr.Writer/Artist"
muslim teen superhero saves world - the death of ms. Marvel
7/18/23
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr 2023
8th Place Placement in Contest
Spawny, Spawny, he’s our man!
Bought the farm without the land,
fury-fueled, he took his stand.
Life had not gone as he planned.
Evil came to him unjust.
Sent to Hell in sudden thrust.
Return to Wanda, he must
become foul Hellspawn or bust.
Right the wrong unfairly dealt,
he sought evil where it dwelt.
Moral rightness is his belt,
doing good is how he felt.
Stopping evil now his quest.
Evil men he does detest.
Justice comes at his behest,
anti-hero full of zest.
Although you are free to swear,
you’d best do so sparingly.
Sometimes when I’m glaring at
things, beams escape me; you don’t want that!
----------
last kloang for the day...
Verdant rage,
Lurking in the depths of his soul,
Gives rise to a hulking figure of green.
The anger builds as his muscles tense,
Ready to unleash his might
Against anyone who would dare to stand in his way.
His skin crackles and sparks with power,
As his strength increases with each passing moment.
His eyes are wild with fury,
His fists ready to strike.
Nothing can stand in his path,
Not even the mightiest of foes.
He is the lord of rage,
The king of the green,
The Hulk.
For "Marvel Superhero or Supervillain" contest sponsored by
Robert James Liguori
A fictional facility created in mother’s memory
by Amadeus Arkham in an island off Gotham city coast,
Arkham Hospital is a unique asylum
for the criminally insane supervillains.
The asylum has a long and vicious history,
a part of which is dominated by Batman,
the comic book superhero at the top of physical ability,
having an agile expertise in various forms of martial arts.
He faces several mentally sick desperado inmates,
like enraged Bane and serial killer Victor, and finds
way out of hallucinating nightmares created by Scarecrow,
counteracts the nefarious designs of the formidable foes.
A fictitious leading institution for psychiatric research,
the asylum has special cells like the extreme isolation,
that accommodates a wide variety of insane evil patients,
whose wicked plots are dexterously wrecked by Batman.
______________
January 14, 2023
Contest : Arkham Asylum
Sponsored by : Robert James Liguori
Santa’s a superhero thanks to Sienna
She’s made a Marvel with her old school penna
So let’s not stop with Putin
When it’s Trump we’ll be bootin
Next elections, he and his orange henna
Santa in red tights and a fur lined cape
His new Marvel powers no villain can escape
Trump, don't mess with the jolly man
He'll kick your orangutang can
And leave you but an empty shell of an ape
They sure do know how to hype it
The previews are all action-packed
If it’s all the same
It was pretty lame
I’d sure like my two hours back
Days passed and then years,
But you stay in my heart right here.
I still remember that day,
When you were going through that way.
I looked into your eyes,
Those were so wise.
Days passed and then years,
But you stay in my heart right here.
I still remember that day,
When you were going through that way.
You were trying hard, showing that you were strong,
But I knew something was wrong.
I looked at you, wanting you to return soon,
But life is not what we assume
Days passed and then years,
But you stay in my heart right here.
I still remember that day,
When you were going through that way.
Destiny was planning for you to go,
And wanted to shout at it NO.
Today as I write,
Your face seems bright.
I remember you as my father,
More as a friend rather.
Days passed and then years,
But you stay in my heart right here.
I still remember that day,
When you were going through that way.
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