Muhammad Ali

I knew him first as Cassius Clay,
“The Greatest,” as he claimed.
His many titles proved that he
Was accurately named.

He “floated like a butterfly”
Yet he was brash and bold.
He stung opponents “like a bee”
And left a few out cold.

Although a boxer through and through,
You might say to the core,
The one place he refused to fight
Was in the Viet Nam War.

He lost his license for that stand,
Excluded from the ring
For several years, but then returned
Triumphant as a king.

His years of taking endless hits
Led sadly to disease,
For even as “the greatest”
Life provides no guarantees.

I’m not a fan of fighting sport
In any form, but yet
I’ll mourn Ali, the fearless champ
The world will not forget.