the last round

not unlike
a boxer, I get up
again
from the canvas
and dig in, swing hard
to the gut,
to the chin.
the blood is everywhere.
I can't be knocked
out,
not me, but
i'm not in it to win,
just to end.
to climb
out of the ring alive
and move
on to greener pastures,
where
love and joy,
where happiness resides.