Rope a Dope Man
drinking shots in the House of Quinn
talking the talk
of the glory years in boxing
women on both arms
stacks of hundreds
in both pockets
light years away from
this street of broken dreams.
now he shines shoes
threatens men
who wear sneakers
and shadow boxes a failed past
that trumpets
an unpromising future.
it is a losing battle
tougher than the time in Cleveland
when Rope a Dope Man
lost an eight rounder
sight in his left eye
and the crowd booed when he could
not answer the bell for the fifth.
so back to Buffalo
City of No Illusions
to work in the unforgiving heat of
the Bethlehem Steel Plant
until like a sucker punch from hell
the plant closes before Rope a Dope Man
can collect a pension
down for the count
a two career failure
in a one horse town.
all he has left is his shoe shine box
and boxing memories
which turn into stories
more colorful than true
with each drink
until one winter morning
Rope a Dope Man
does not answer the bell
the cops find his once proud body
frozen by the cruel winter
on the steps of the Roanoke Hotel
a booing crowd
turns to no crowd at all.