ramblings and things
Muhammad Ali, 1942 - 2016
A young upstart from Louisville
Won the heavyweight crown,
And in Nineteen sixty four
Turned boxing upside down.
He fought The Bear, Sonny Liston,
Until then an opponent of dread;
Instead of predicted defeat
The Bear was beaten instead.
With the face of an Adonis,
Build of a Greek God,
Mind of a poet, combination
The world found odd,
He "floated like a butterfly
Stung like bee"
And in the boxing ring
A delight to see.
A man of principle
Whose beliefs were strong,
He challenged the world
Instead of quietly going along.
He refused to fight in Vietnam,
Without any sense of shame
Though he suffered vilification,
Disgrace poured on his name.
He weathered the storm
Went on the attack
And with devastating force
Won respect and title back.
A fighter for the poor,
Underprivileged, needy,
An example of charity in
A world materialistic and greedy.
Wrecked by diseased
He remained dignified to the last:
Today we learned this legend
Had so quietly passed.
From outcast to statesman
He worked as years slipped by,
His praise will be written
By far better men than I.
Overcoming discrimination to
Become a much respected man,
Showed with determination
He who wants to do really can.
He said "I am the greatest," and,
From this man of Uncommon stuff,
Let his own words be
Epitaph enough,
Muhammad Ali, 1942 - 2016