Daddy, Am I A Hero?

My son’s name is Justin,
He turned twenty one today.
We take walks in the park,
And watch the children play.

It wasn’t long ago,
Justin frolicked in this park.
Playing catch with his friends,
And his little brother Mark.

Mark called him “his hero,”
Which made Justin very proud.
He took care of his brother,
It was his duty, he vowed.

“Daddy, am I a hero?”
Justin would often ask.
“I’m not like Spiderman.
I don’t even wear a mask!”

“Of course you’re a hero,”
Was my regular reply.
Then he’d smile from cheek to cheek,
And out the door he would fly.

One day, out on a job,
I got a call from my wife.
There had been an accident,
Justin nearly lost his life.

Mark found a box of matches,
And he set the house on fire.
Justin arrived from school,
As things were becoming dire.

Mark was trapped in the house,
Justin heard his brother shout.
Without giving it a thought,
He rushed in and pulled Mark out.

But as they neared the door,
The roof began caving in.
Justin shoved Mark to safety,
But he remained trapped within.

When they finally got him out,
You couldn’t tell it was him.
Most of his body was burned;
His chances were looking grim.

But Justin is a fighter,
And somehow, he did survive.
Though confined to a wheel chair;
He’s happy to be alive.

Mark graduated high school,
And will be leaving this fall,
To study law at Harvard;
Justin’s the proudest of all.

Sometimes he’ll take my hand,
Then look up at me and ask,
“Daddy, am I a hero,
Even though I have no mask?”

My voice begins to crack,
As it takes a doleful tone.
Yes, you are a hero;
The greatest I’ve ever known.