Poetry competition 2009–10 – Ironing Superman's Underpants by Karen Costello-McFeat

Runner up (16 and over category)

There are those who would envy
having a superhero for a son:
cheering from the bleachers

at his skill, saving the planet,
(writing for it too)
defending Truth, Justice and the American Way.

And don't get me wrong.
No mother could be more proud than I.
It's just that with each fight,

each flight, my heart is arrested.
Each gleam of green I see
conjures the spectre of Kryptonite,

which will undo us all.
I prefer my Clark mild-mannered
Safe. Having him home for breakfast,

Sundays, after church,
reading newspaper columns filled
with coupons, funnies, the state fair.

You see, he may seem invincible,
able to conquer each Herculean task,
but every hero has a heel.

I want to wrap him in a cloak of love,
scare off the bogeyman with lullabies,
have super powers too.

But here I am – ironing his underpants