False Superman

We built a superman. 

In our heads, we built a superman. 

Clipped by a speeding bullet, 

So that false blood, stolen blood, blood that was here first 

Leaked from the side of that pouting 

Cold face. 

We built a superman. 

In our heads, it pumps its fist in the air, 

Higher than a great tower, 

The one we built for it, 

That we held on our backs. 

We built a superman 

And when he only wore a mask we thought nothing: 

“He’ll keep them out!” 

“He’s the one who can save us!” 

The superman looks down at us now from his white oval walls. 

Somewhere, his old red and blue costume is burning (there was never any white, to begin with,) but 

The yellow is still there. It always was.