The Greatest

Ali known at the time as "Cassius Clay" defeats Sonny Liston for the Heavyweight title of the world.

It's hard to express this in words

for the younger generation

But when I was just a small lad

heavyweight fights led the nation

It wasn't that we didn't care

for the struggle of civil rights

It was just that back in those days

men worshiped the heavyweight fights

 

While Martin Luther had a place

in the hearts and minds of us all

It was the audacious Ali

who held the boxing world in thrall

He was Cassius Marcellus Clay

born in nineteen forty two

A victor at the Olympics

from where his legend only grew

 

He had made short work of Liston

who had mauled way more than a few

In a fight where barely a soul

had known what this great champ could do

 He then changed his name to Ali

going on to crush all comers

Taunting each of the challengers

for what seemed like endless summers

 

But then he'd dared refuse the draft

while men cried in lamentation

"How could the great Heavyweight Champ

bring such disgrace to our nation"

The commissioners took his title

along with his Olympic gold

They knocked him down, and took his crown

crying "How dare he be so bold"

 

Here this man had stood by himself

 took the pain dealt to him alone

For all the things that he believed

he was willing to lose his throne

Though as we all found out later

he was right to protest that war

Ali stood by his convictions

and soon he would do even more

 

At the end of his long career

 after Larry Holmes won their fight

I asked a close black friend of mine

"just who did you bet on tonight"

"I put my money on the champ

he fights with such malignity

I guess I knew, that he was through

but he gave me my dignity"

 

 

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Author's Note

Very few people ever become so famous that we know them by their first name. But Ali was the Greatest fighter ever. He stirred the core of every man alive at the time. Forced us to look at ourselves and through that glass we came to admire him. Later he became a great humanitarian. Saving the lives of the hostages in the first Iraq war. He received a new gold medal from the Olympic committee at the Atlanta games,to replace the one taken from him. Misunderstood? Sure he was. Loved and admired around the world? Your Damn Right he is! In later years Ali has contracted Parkinson's disease. However a man once interviewed him many years after his retirement. Ali took him out to the barn to see his dusty trophies laying about. "You know" he said. "Here are the things I strove so hard for many years of my life.They didn't mean a thing when you compare them to what really matters." Well he mattered. At least to the rest of us. He is today as he has been for many years one of the most Iconic and beloved figures of the modern era. There is only One Ali!
So here is to the greatest fighter and one of the greatest men who ever lived.

Reviews

[Judy]

When I first saw this piece, I was immediately drawn to the title - I thought you would probably be too young to even understand that - but that being said, you have taken this to a whole new place. Your poetry is political, sociological and in every ways relevant YOur poetry just as poetry is great - and then you have added the ancillary music and photos! I love it!

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you I am 54 yrs old I remember him oh so well Im glad you liked it

[David Scott]

You give a great honor to the man and to his name.
I see the greatness in so many souls. I feel it is often simple chance that brings a man to greatness and recognition in the eyes of society. Yet, like I wrote in my poem, he had to choose his destiny as well.
We have these heroes all around us everyday. We can be as heroic in our lives everyday.
Maybe you and I will never achieve greatness on the global stage, but we can be a great friend, or the greatest lover to our significant others, or the greatest father our children need us to be. Greatness is a choice as well and it is within reach of every person.
I like thinking about this topic because I think of the "lesser" in our society as well. Those who fight addictions and mental illness every single moment of their lives. The unfortunate who overcome their environment and culture to become productive citizens. The privileged child who chooses to get an education and build a company when he could sit around and live in luxury without a days work. On and on.... I see these people as heroes.
Ali was a man... flawed and imperfect. He made some bad choices in his life, but he also used his name and position for great good. In the end, all any person can do is fight a good fight...
Great write Tate on a great man.

[Sunflower/Sara Kendrick]

Tate,

I just enjoyed the topic chosen on which you wrote a poem which has great flow, rhythm, and rhyme..I am glad that I chose this one to read today..Sara

[Tate Morgan]

Sara man I cant remember the last time i heard from you along time though welcome back thank you

[Sunflower/Sara Kendrick]

Tate,

Tate,Thanks for the rewelcoming..I read this poem then that next day there was something on TV about Mahommad Ali..I can't remember what it was about but there he was..Maybe it was his birthday ..It is good to be back and read a few of my old friends and make a few new acquaintances..May God richly bless you, may your gift overflow onto the pages of WritersCafe..May your gift expand and touch on the lives of many in a positive way in the years to come..

Sara

[Holly Mason]

I truly enjoy this concept...the teachings of history through a poem that reads with a flare
I have learned a things from this writing piece so I can only imagine what a younger generation would learn...I have teens and the things we think they are learning have long since lost there places in the up to date history courses and books....
Like the story and imagery with your words
thank you for sharing fine sir

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Holly I so miss having you around I havent been on much but will soon

[bluessadmood]

ohh Mohammad Ali,what a lovable character,what lovely days..i dont like the game ,for i am never that aggressive,but it was he who made me follow it..yes he stuck to his beliefs,he was never a coward he could just see it all through..wars are not a game,taking lives with their hopes ,dreams,is its never worth it to take even one life through a stupid war,with all the silly slogans ..
that was really lovely my friend.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Blue Yes you are right War is a terrible loss. I do remember when he came to your country to get Saddam Hussein to release his human shields before the start of the Iraq war the first one. He told him men dont hold innocent people .They stand up for themselves and fight. And Suddam released them

[Rick Puetter]

Dear Tate,

This is a wonderful tribute to Ali, probably the greatest boxer of all time. And as you point out, boxing wasn't his only strength. He knew how to live life sticking to his guns.

Outstanding write, Tate. You float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.

Best regards,

Rick

[Rosalind Gale]

I was hoping (well, kind of) that this would be about Ali. And it is. My dad taught me to box and I got pretty good at it. I love how this stirred memories, the way the poem is like a 15 rounder in itself. The images and part descriptiveness gave me a thrill, a longing for the simpler times, for old black and white TV, and the wireless. Thank you Tate.
-x-

[Tony]

Float like a butterfly
Sting like a bee

I dig it!

[lee von cleef]

here I am again, Tate or Ali ,give you their all , and Heart is what I measure life by, With enough heart life is light.

[Michael G. Smith]

You always bring your characters to life fiction, non-fiction there's no bias in your talents. I still watch the old fights on YouTube. He was one of the few with great charisma.