knockout

the boxer
in his corner on the stool
looks
out to the maddening crowd.
blood
cakes his eyes.
his nose is flattened
wide.
his ear are swollen.
they douse him with water,
clog the cuts.
rub his shoulders.
you've got him this round
they whisper into his one
good ear.
upper cut, upper cut.
he's dropping his guard.
but the boxer isn't there.
he sees a girl
in the stands. she reminds him
of a woman he used
to be in love with.
the road not taken.
he misses her, he loves her.
he'd do anything to win
her back.
he'd even get up exhausted
with no life in him
to win her love again.
so this is what he fights
on for.
the bell rings and he
charges
into midnight. he doesn't
see the glove coming
towards him,
he only sees the girl.
he goes
down and down and down
into a slag heap. he's out.