Busted eyebrows,
Bloody lips,
And broken nose.

Pushing thru
The pain
And nausea
By pure grit
And raw willpower.

Don’t raise
Your elbows.
Keep your guard up.
Watch his left.
Stay close.

The bell rings,
How many fingers?
Bloodshot eyes
Try hard to focus.
Two… no, wait… three?

A bloody towel
Hits the canvas
It’s all over…
For this day
At least.

Why do you do it?
Why take this beating?
Why go back
Into that ring?
Why do you fight?

Swollen lips
Slowly part
To form
A crooked smile.

It helps me
To unwind.