THE PRIZEFIGHT

Hey, y’all.

The prompt for Day 22 of National Poetry Writing Month is to:

Write a poem in which two things have a fight. Two very unlikely things, if you can manage it. Like, maybe a comb and a spatula. Or a daffodil and a bag of potato chips. Or perhaps your two things could be linked somehow – like a rock and a hard place – and be utterly sick of being so joined. The possibilities are endless!

Here is my poem:

THE PRIZEFIGHT

By Farah Lawal Harris, 2024

I balled my fists up and assumed a fighting stance.

i couldn’t see his hands.

i skipped around the ring to look menacing.

He appeared to do nothing.

i shouted insults, a list of all the things that were his fault.

The bell dinged and it was time for the brutal assault.

I swung and swung until my shoulders burned

and the taste of copper crept on my tongue.

“How could you do me wrong? Our love was a beautiful song!” I cried.

I cried and cried some more.

He picked me up and hugged me,

slid the red gloves off my red palms,

then whispered to me once I was calm:

“The fact that you were fighting me

means you still believe.”

The bell dings.

Unanimous decision in favor of me.

Victory!