Hand-drawn by Ellie Bennett
(After ‘The Smallest Superhero in the World’ by Kai, aged 7)
A small hand / monkey-bar calloused / learns the shape of holding / a body / then a crayon / then a body / the grip not so different / kneecaps soft enough to take the imprint / small stones pressing their brief claims / testing impact in miniature / not yet knowing the scale / not yet knowing / gravel elsewhere / holds longer / keeps the impression of what has fallen into it / everything opening with a sound / the velcro of everything / sneakers / book bag / the daily tearing apart / the daily sealing shut / bark caught in the turn of a sock / bark like a dog / that will not leave / that follows / into the house / settles where it can / on the playground / games delightfully mean / you’re dead / no you are / no you / the word dropped when playtime ends / except for some / above / the sky not empty / space not empty / something moving / a figure with a cape / flight without border / something named and renamed / illegal / alien / the distance between things growing harder to cross / what are we hurtling towards / the smallest superhero in the world / not drawn / but drawing / the enormity of it all / ignored / in favour of the smallest superhero in the world.
