Sunday, July 19, 2015

805 - The Boxer

Sunday Whirl (Wordle #208) presents a list of words
that we must incorporate in a writing piece.  

The words this week are:

tilt, astray, breeze, awake, bruising, hamper,
instinct, cracks, spirit, staggered, smiled, angle


The Boxer

Does he lie awake at night,
Planning his fights?
Licking his lips,
Anticipating
The next bruising encounter,
The next windmill
Worthy of a tilt?
Planning the next obtuse angle
From which to attack,
From which to crack
Society’s spirit,
To hamper collaboration,
To fan and magnify fear,
For personal gain 
And communal loss.

Boxers fight win.
Or lose.
There is no compromise.

It is depressing 
How easily we are lead astray
Guided down the dark, dank alleys
Of fear and distrust
As if unsure of what is right or wrong
Like a Reichstag flag
Fluttering in a light breeze.
Observers are staggered
That our moral compass
Is so readily deflected.
Or ignored.

Does he lie awake at night?
I suspect so.
I wonder if, lying there, 
He smiles,
Dreaming of his wins.
And our losses.
 .
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2015
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14 comments:

  1. "In the clearing stands a boxer" ~ Paul Simon

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  2. How I wish this fighter was disqualified for dirty and underhand tactics.

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  3. Surely he will meet his match? I wonder whether if he is hoping Britain will come along and recolonize us once he has ruined the country. Then he could be the colonial Governor General and reestablish the convict class and disenfranchise those that protest?

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  4. Interesting and what a vivid piece.

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  5. A very clever contrast of perspective.

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  6. clever with the flag, innocently fluttering. :)

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  7. AnonymousJuly 20, 2015

    Very clever and well written!

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  8. You have tasty ahead of the game...i suppose then a peaceful nights sleep feels less impossible- sigh

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  9. AnonymousJuly 21, 2015

    Okay, now I have the song in my head. But, I think Paul Simon's boxer is a bit more honest than this one,

    Elizabeth

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  10. A co-worker of mine years ago, along with her husband bred boxers...and I got so sick of hearing about the damn dogs! ;)

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  11. Very nicely done, J.

    Pamela

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  12. YES! Cos, this transcends the ring. Personal gain vs. communal losses. Can be any win or lose situation, any battle. And I do believe that adverse people sit and count the notches, plan the next "campaign." Going into 2016, I find this a very political poem in many ways. Brilliant as always. I have missed you!! Amy

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