The Ring

[couchgrouch]

The RingHe came to soon after he'd been counted outto smelling salts and the sound of a cheering crowdit took a few seconds to realize he'd lost then his jaw felt that young kid's hard right crossthough he was ten long years past his primeit looked like he might win one last timethough he'd promised his wife if he didn't winthat was the last time he'd touch gloves inthe ring that'd been his whole lifewithout it he didn't know how he'd survivecos down through the years the joy and the tearshe found all those things...in the ringhe looked but didn't see his wife in the second rowhis mind drifted to the reservation years agoother Navajo boys teased him for bein' half whiteone thing bein' diff'rent does is teach kids to fighthe hung up a sleeping bag filled with desert sandand hit it for hours to toughen up his handsyeah, from skinny kid to champ to old has-beenthose days flew by fast n hard as ten rounds inthe ring that'd been his whole lifewithout it he didn't know how he'd survivecos down through the years the joy and the tearshe found all those things...in the ringwell, he nearly defied the critics and the oddsif not for that lucky punch he had a title shotas his trainer sewed his cuts and unlaced his gloveshe regretted goin' home a loser to the gal he lovedten years back he'd have KO'd that young punkbut little did he know that he really woncos when she left his wife thought their love was gonebut when she heard he lost she slipped back onthe ring that'd been her whole lifewithout it she didn't know how she'd survivecos down through the years the joy and the tearsshe found all those things...in the ring(c)2006 Robert George