You Can't Put Muhammad Ali in a Poem
If you did —
it would
knock you down (remember Liston) &
if
you were
still stand
ing you would
have to
bust out (remember the March on Washington)
of your shakin' vaulted
poor thinkin' self (oh yes!)
& change (that's right!)
this big 'ol world (say it!)
& if you did — You (yes, you)
would have to battle w/words & rhymes & body & time — for
your New Idea — (did you hear that ) you would
have to
endure (i hear you ) & propose (what?)
a new name for all
( a new name?)
it could be Peace
it could be Unity (sounds easy)
but this poem cannot
provide this
or contain this
Word — (Watch out!)
here it comes! &
it's gonna to sting like a bee
— Juan Felipe Herrera
Poet Laureate of the United States