the sweet science [updated]

boxing
has this odd
moment of tenderness
when a fighter
is pummeled to
the canvas
and the ref counts over him
but his eyes
have no fight left
and his legs
won’t work
properly
and before
finishing his 10-count
the ref waves his arms
and the fight ends
and then
after all that brutality
the ref
cradles
the defeated boxer
and hugs him
as if to say
“it’s okay
you did your best
you did your best”  
 

© Buzz Dixon