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Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

0 posted 2008-05-11 05:59 PM

When TV first came to us,
Grandfather and I watched
the boxing on Friday nights.
Two snowy ghosts circled the ring
slugging it out with bloody noses,
puffy lips and eyes swollen shut.

Gillette sponsored the fights,
we both looked and felt sharp,
grandfather with his cigar,
bit firmly in false teeth,
taught me to always fight
until the bloody end.

Saturday morning Grandfather
would take me to the cellar,
I learned to take a punch,
pick myself off the floor,
get up and go for more.

The all important points,
watch your man's eyes,
never lose eye contact,
keep those hands up,
left foot forward,
move about lightly,
bob and weave,
dab with that jab
then come with the right,
the combo, the uppercut
and when your man gets giddy,
move in, work the body
fast and hard.

Good advice for a Jitterbug,
in our hardscrabble town,
we fought to live,
and lived to fight.
I could handle my hands.

I never lost a fight, in street,
settlement house or school,
Grandfather was proud of me,
I fought like Jack Dempsey’s love child,
it was a pleasure to watch me work.

While he was dying,
I'd hold his hand,
and get him ready
to meet his final bell;
he smiled, and fought
until the bloody end.

Bobby

shyvl
Senior Member

since 2008-04-11

Posts 531
texas, usa

1 posted 2008-05-11 11:33 PM

What poignant reminiscing. This is such a touching tale of men learning to be men, growing up hard and strong til the end. Pleasure to read.
sharyn

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis

since 2007-09-16

Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California

2 posted 2008-05-12 02:27 AM

Kind of sounds like my Dad.
Ida

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

3 posted 2008-05-12 08:21 AM

Thanks dear Sharyn,

Thanks for reading and the kind words on this one. I'm pleased that it worked for you.

Love Bobby

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

4 posted 2008-05-12 08:23 AM

Thanks dear Ida,

Thanks for reading and the kind words on this one.

Love Bobby

gilead
Senior Member

since 2008-03-10

Posts 1067
nevada, USA

5 posted 2008-05-12 09:41 AM

I remember the Friday night fights very well. My father and the rest of the boys hovered around the TV and enjoyed his blow by blow comments on the action---bum of the month! human punching bag! . . .

You have used this bit of history to tell a powerful story, a drama, if you will, about the real fight of this temporal life.

I enjoyed immensely!

Art

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

6 posted 2008-05-12 10:38 AM

Thanks Art,

I'm pleased you liked this one. It's good you remembered those days. It's too bad people now have to have cable to see boxing anymore. I don't have cable, so I miss the fights.

Bobby

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

7 posted 2008-05-12 11:35 AM

*smile*

Your spirit is kin to mine.

We must never argue.

I confess I enjoyed this much--I grew up watching many a bare-knuckle fight.

(messy, but there was honor, too. When it was over, it was over.)

Thanks for sharing, Robert.

vandana

Member Patricius

since 1999-10-22

Posts 10463
USA

8 posted 2008-05-12 11:39 AM

enjoyed

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

9 posted 2008-05-12 12:30 PM

Thanks dear Serenity blaze,

Thanks for the kind words on this.

What you say is very true. Most of the people I ever went to Duke City with became my best friends.

I must admit to the truth though, I did lose some.

Love Bobby

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis

since 2008-01-25

Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

10 posted 2008-05-12 12:32 PM

Thanks dear Vandana,

I'm very pleased that you enjoyed this little poem.

Love Bobby

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