A superhero is more than just about having strength

Or a custom-made costume to hide its identity

A superhero would understand the word ‘sacrifice’

For a superhero is not about having superpower

It’s about what little you have to offer the world

 

My dad is a superhero

For he had no superpower

But he had offer me the best of his world

Sometimes, the word ‘strong’ equals to dad

When I was younger

When the sun slowly fell asleep

And the moon slowly woke up

His hands wore the skin of a thin man

But the love of a father lifted me up

And tucked me to sleep

 

My dad is a superhero

For he had no superpower

But he gave his best raising me

Into the person I am

He taught me lessons

Of what’s good and what’s bad

He taught me what it means to be ‘grateful’

And when I couldn’t finish my food

He told me that money is

Not something that falls from the sky

It is earned with effort

So never leave your food unfinished

 

I was too young

I realized it too late

He wasn’t angry

He was teaching me ‘life’

I should have listened more

Should have mentioned ‘thank you’

Should have confessed ‘Abah, I love you’

 

My dad is a superhero

For he had no superpower

But sometimes, the word ‘sacrifice’ equals to dad

For he buried his freedom and

His back bent from carrying

The weight called responsibilities

The crease on his forehead

Was getting clearer day by day

Despite his old age, his duty was yet over

Cause when the days started

Shooting bullets of rain

And my body trembled in cold

My dad would come running

With an umbrella in one hand

And ‘love’ in the other

As I held it tight

We would walk home

Clothes still wet

But somehow,

It was warm.

 

That’s why my dad is a superhero

For he built me a set of wings

Just to allow me freedom to dream high

While he silently suffered

The burden of that dream

 

But the truth is

My dad was not a superhero

For he had no superpower

So he was not immune to cancer

His strength gone

And his smile void of joy

It was filled with pain

There was no longer same old conversation

Or same lame jokes which no one finds funny

Instead all that was left was the waiting

Waiting for a death

Waiting for one of my biggest lost

Waiting for a friend to be gone

Waiting for a family to say his final goodbye

Waiting for the day where my tears

Will finally be set free

And fall onto my cheeks

They will be warm on my skin

But inside, the summer has ended

And winter has come and this time,

It wants to stay

At the end of the day, all that will be left of is

Waiting and just waiting without being

Able to do anything except to keep on praying

 

But guess what? It’s okay.

I don’t need a superhero.

I just want my dad.