Rope A Dope Poem by John Sensele

The capacity and audacity to bear pain sets you apart
Cos pain paints a true picture of the man in your mirror
Who crumbles, grumbles, fumbles or rambles on a rampart
Cracking to pieces or sacking a scampering and whimpering error.

The capacity and agility to absorb sharp combinations of jabs and uppercuts
Turns you into a precious, priceless diamond or into a common piece of charcoal
That burns into embers but cuts
A low profile on the scale that measures and weighs figurative coal.

The capacity and ability to look pain in the eye
Challenging it to pummel you on the torso in Muhammad Ali's rope a dope
Style, absorbing tonnes of pain to fly
To loftier clouds as a gem in God's crop.

The capacity and sagacity to taunt pain
To dare pain to sink barbs
Into your skin, your soul, your sane
Mind elevate your status above lions, elephants, leopards, midgets and crabs.