My Tribute To Muhammad Ali- Narrative poetry included
" Don't count the days, make the days count. "
He was a young black boy born in Louisville, Kentucky in nineteen forty two. A time before the Civil Rights law was enacted.
Someone stole his new bike, and he wanted to find him and beat him up. A friend told him to come to the local gym where boxers honed their skill. He was twelve years old and a great boxer. He won a gold medal a few years later at the Olympics.
When he returned home, he went to a restaurant and was refused service because it was a white only restaurant.
He went down to the river and threw his gold medal in and never looked back.
From that day forward, he had a burning desire for equality for him and his race.
He was uneducated but smart as a whip. He had a gift for rhyme. He fought against racism his entire life.
He became the number one heavyweight boxing champion of the world.
He was loved by many, but also hated by many because he refused to be inducted in the Viet Nam war, stating, " I ain't got no hate for no Vietcong. " He also changed his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali, stating that Casius Clay was his slave name. He also joined the Muslim religion, believing that God had no color and loved all people from all religions.
He paid dearly for his beliefs. He was stripped of his world boxing title, and was sentenced to five years in prison for his refusal to go to the Viet Nam war. His attorney took his case to the Supreme Court where the sentence was overruled.
He was married four times and had nine children, saying, " Each child was a gift of God. " He continued boxing, becoming once again the number one heavyweight boxing champion in the world.
He retired from boxing when he was 39. Parkinson Disease was already noticeable. At first he had hand tremors, then it rapidly progressed to his entire body. Soon he was silenced and unable to walk.
Never again would we see him dance like a ballerina. Never again would we hear a witty poem like the following. " Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, his hand's can't hit what his eye's can't see "
" The best way to make your dream's come true is to wake up. "
" Don't count the days, make the days count. "
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He fought the establishment and won
He refused to fire a gun
He preached love instead of war
He shined like a twinkling star
His long battle with Parkinson Disease took it's toll
The light grew dimmer, but not in his soul
Ali, you did your very best
Now your rhyming has been put to rest
Just think when your spirit enters the Golden Gate
Your body will no longer shake, your witty speech will reverberate
Your funny quotes will once again
Make the heavenly hosts laugh my witty friend
The ' Greatest ' can now rest in tranquility peace
Where love is a constant that will never cease.
RIP
