Shadow Boxing
for AJR

The you
You won’t—
Can’t—
Spot

Until a light is shined for you
From someplace out of thought,
Out of reach, beyond, aside, disguised
In glimpses sometimes caught.

Throwing shadows for your fight
Before your eager eyes.
Sparring with your own reflection
Brings your own demise.

Risking lightly all your losses
Weighing out all of your gains,
Measure up against your crosses,
Defend the purse forever restrained.

Mirroring your shadow’s moves
Undermines the boxer’s dance
Feinting only yields a profit
If there’s something to advance.

No ropes for this dope,
Bolos won’t work here,
Your rival won’t outmatch you
His punches won’t adhere

No fighter ever wins a match
Against his matching fear,
No fighter ever clinched against
His own, polished veneer.

Pull back all your punches,
Go ahead and rush you bum,
You couldn’t really think that
I would ever be so dumb.

Round for round,
Pound for pound,
Bout for bout,
Punch for punch—
Diablo teases only those
Who welcome in his touch.

Build upon a repertoire
All to no avail,
Please believe me
Please believe me
Believe me
Leave me

Alone.
What good do echoes do for you
If they never tip the scales?

Impersonate the shadow-dance,
Pretend you never heard.
Alone you’ll fight the next mischance,
Your punches, unreturned.

Circles are not spirals,
They never move above
They never progress farther
Than the gloves you love to love.

Embrace the empty ring, my friend,
If you can’t embrace a dove,
Or be satisfied to contend
With the dance you “could have”
“should have”
“would have”
“might have”
done.

1/05/09. By me.

Brilliantly crafted

Thank you.

That is and excellent poem Ladyhawke


I like it


You are very talented

Thanks mirror. I appreciate your feedback...

I think you state most eloquently that there is no one to fight but oneself. Bravo!

Thank you.

I agree very good and welcome