Renaissance Man

After Liston, they fell like dominoes:

Folley, Terrell, Williams, Mildenberger,

London, Cooper, Chuvalo, and Patterson,

dizzied by his lightning quick jabs

and the waltz of his dazzling white shoes,

sparkling like chrome

as he bicycled across the canvas.

We stood witness to the creation

of modern day myth—Black Superman

from Krypton, Kentucky,

undefeated god of the ring,

clairvoyant and charismatic,

denigrating and taunting challengers

while staring into his crystal ball.

He wanted to go to heaven so I beat him in seven.

It ain’t no jive, he’ll go in five.

He might be great but he’ll fall in eight.

Ali vernacular.

Ali meter.

Ali rhyme.

Ali renaissance:

        black beauty,

        black ballet,

        black poetry

        on the wings of a butterfly,

with foot work, hand speed, and power

that whupped ass.