first superhero to fly (with vines)
first superhero to talk with animals
killed his enemies with his beloved knife
no superpowers — just animal magnetism
wrestled gorillas for his exams
discovered ancient lost lands
saved his one true love over and over
every time she loved him more and more
sinuous black lines that barely contain
the outline of man most savage, most glorious
slick black hair, artlessly tousled, aquiline
silhouette, portrait of majesty in the jungle
“Kreegah, Bundolo!” his war cry
the wild trembles in a million heart
© Ward Maxwell, 2014
Peterborough Poets 