No one taught me how
to be a man and bullies
taunted me for not
being one and I never
fought back when they
made me punch myself
because deep down I
suspected that Mr. Simpson
had me pegged when he
called me a little wiener
and even though my mom
says I’m the handsomest
asthmatic in Springfield
it was shortsighted of me
to purchase 2000 copies
of the flop comic book Biclops
and I must have done
something to make Mom leave
Dad alone in that racecar bed
so I guess I agreed with
Jimbo, Dolph, and Kearney
when they wrapped me in
bumper stickers, shoved me
into a shopping cart and
down a steep hill. Deep down
somehow I thought they were right
that I deserved to be tripped
on the sidewalk, my arms
locked in a wrestling hold
called the crucifix armbar
as I yelped Uncle, Uncle
and thought Father, Father
and help, you’re the ultimate
superhero so why
have you forsaken me?
Photo By: r. nial bradshaw
