Today, I share a poem to acknowledge the poet, Black American Muslim minister, Olympic gold-medalist, world-renowned athlete, and three-time boxing heavyweight champion of the world, Muhammad Ali.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. (Psalms 18: 34-36, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Dimensions of Death? (04/24/2016); A Note On Spirit Warfare (01/06/2016); GOD Grants License? (06/21/2013); Origin of Baptism? (06/22/2013); Must We Really Die? (05/13/2013); Can GOD Die? (05/14/2013); The Church as a Bride? (05/15/2013)
WHAT’S IN A NAME
[A Poem Recalling a Man Who Conquered Nations, Muhammad Ali]
[A Poem Recalling a Man Who Conquered Nations, Muhammad Ali]
Shakespeare was first to speak the name to me,
“Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look”
The words from Caesar’s mouth
In that same book where he says,
Gather ye fat men about me,
such as sleep o’er nights
Little knowing his own ambition
To protect all Rome as imperator
god, would end by Cassius
And the unkindest cut from Brutus his best friend
“Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look”
The words from Caesar’s mouth
In that same book where he says,
Gather ye fat men about me,
such as sleep o’er nights
Little knowing his own ambition
To protect all Rome as imperator
god, would end by Cassius
And the unkindest cut from Brutus his best friend
So when I first saw young Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.
Sleek, lank, handsome and tall, ready to make history
A teenager, like myself, I wondered
Just where or when this champion would fall
His AAU and Golden Gloves careers began to jab
And the goal of Olympic heights
So strange for a youngster hailing from the South
Began to knock our sox off
Making the Sport of “fisticuffs”
A household name
Sleek, lank, handsome and tall, ready to make history
A teenager, like myself, I wondered
Just where or when this champion would fall
His AAU and Golden Gloves careers began to jab
And the goal of Olympic heights
So strange for a youngster hailing from the South
Began to knock our sox off
Making the Sport of “fisticuffs”
A household name
Laurel-crowned in Rome, he leaves the rank of amateur behind
Becoming the professional he longed to be
In mind, child’s play, the competition of the Globe
Bear-baiting, entertainment for its day
Comes then young warrior coarse and loud
Cutting and strutting, drawing a crowd
“I want Sonny Liston! I want Sonny Liston!”
A name from the “Gangster Chronicles”
and would say, titled “Champ” only because of bulk
Ready to put his name on the dotted line
Becoming the professional he longed to be
In mind, child’s play, the competition of the Globe
Bear-baiting, entertainment for its day
Comes then young warrior coarse and loud
Cutting and strutting, drawing a crowd
“I want Sonny Liston! I want Sonny Liston!”
A name from the “Gangster Chronicles”
and would say, titled “Champ” only because of bulk
Ready to put his name on the dotted line
A first-round KO, seconds off the clock
An unseen punch so swift, so strong, so dark
Confused and dazed, the crowd was stunned
the spark of recognition burst aflame, sweet science
And standing on the ropes, the prince proclaimed
“I’m King of the World!”, disputed king of the ring
A saga for the ages that would draw
All eyes, all envy, a bum for every month
The known, the unknown, the best, the just s0-so
And one who earned the name, “I broke his jaw.”
An unseen punch so swift, so strong, so dark
Confused and dazed, the crowd was stunned
the spark of recognition burst aflame, sweet science
And standing on the ropes, the prince proclaimed
“I’m King of the World!”, disputed king of the ring
A saga for the ages that would draw
All eyes, all envy, a bum for every month
The known, the unknown, the best, the just s0-so
And one who earned the name, “I broke his jaw.”
And then there was the struggle with the war
Announcing that the Muslim knight had come
Muhammad Ali, no more the wrestler Gorgeous George
The savvy mentors Angelo Dundee, Bundini Brown
Who had urged him float like a butterfly
Sting like a bee, and rumble, young man, rumble
Now Malcolm X and Honorable Elijah Muhammad
Would mold the gladiator-athlete, the poet bold
To minister Islam, justice, protest and peace
To carry the name of X in pride, in freedom
Announcing that the Muslim knight had come
Muhammad Ali, no more the wrestler Gorgeous George
The savvy mentors Angelo Dundee, Bundini Brown
Who had urged him float like a butterfly
Sting like a bee, and rumble, young man, rumble
Now Malcolm X and Honorable Elijah Muhammad
Would mold the gladiator-athlete, the poet bold
To minister Islam, justice, protest and peace
To carry the name of X in pride, in freedom
We haven’t heard the last yet of “the Lip” from Louisville
Acknowledging he did give the world a thrill
A record of 56 and five, the Greatest, he would say
A Southern boy, Olympian again in Atlanta
Leading the way having fought and won
The Fight of the Century, the Rumble in the Jungle
Acknowledging he did give the world a thrill
A record of 56 and five, the Greatest, he would say
A Southern boy, Olympian again in Atlanta
Leading the way having fought and won
The Fight of the Century, the Rumble in the Jungle
The kid grew up, and made a name for himself
Upon the world stage, so fast, he cut off the light
And was in bed before the room got dark
Where sticks and stones may break ones bones
Yet, names will never hurt
Upon the world stage, so fast, he cut off the light
And was in bed before the room got dark
Where sticks and stones may break ones bones
Yet, names will never hurt
©Michael Andrew Williams, 2014. All rights reserved worldwide.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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