note, passed to superman

note, passed to superman

Lucille Clifton

sweet jesus, superman,

if i had seen you

dressed in your blue suit

i would have known you.

maybe that choirboy clark

can stand around

listening to stories

but not you,

not with metropolis

to save and every crook in town

filthy with kryptonite.

lord, man of steel,

i understand the cape,

the leggings,

the whole ball of wax.

you can trust me,

there is no planet stranger

than the one i’m from.

Sweet jesus, Ap readers, wasn't this an interesting poem. I'm wondering whether the first line was a comparison of the two figures or just exclamation of excitement/admiration. Clifton says she would know the good, super hero, and that the mere human of clark kent can be human-like, standing around listening to the news and horror of the world. But Superman, he saves the city, captures the criminals with their human weaknesses all about them (kryptonite.) Making himself different, with the cape and leggings and everything, from humanity only makes sense because earth is the strangest planet ever.

This poem is strange for this author because in clifton's other writings that i've read, she has always had a positive outlook on humanity in general.

Well hope you've enjoyed reading, please leave your comments.