Superhero

I spoke to a man casually

We talked of things that seemed

Mundane

But strangely

Wisdom

Made its way

Into this benign exchange

I said that I was sure

That something was temporary

And without pause

He said

Most things are

We live in a society

Of hyperbole

Where everything

Is forever

From love affairs

To family

To even our own lives

Where we deny mortality

But this man goes on to say

Mortality

Is enlightening

I am taken aback

That the death

That almost claimed him

Let him live life more fully

The worst nightmares

That we hide under the covers from

Have come for him

And he looked them in the eye

Defeated them

And said

You are only temporary