The Greatest?
© Rommi Smith, BBC Artist in Residence for the Commonwealth Games 2002

First performed on Mike Shaft's Breakfast Show Tuesday June 11th 2002

A twist on the Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson World Heavyweight Championship Contest, (8/06/02) and the game of boxing where skill is measured in the ultimate level of injury the opponent sustains, knockout.

Seconds out, round one

Entering from
Opposite sides of
Opinion
In all their confidence
And shining status
Rank and kudos

Humbleness
And
Humility

In a poetic shift,
Humbleness makes
A peach of an overhand right and
Scores a point for tenderness

In a tactical move
Grace is whispered
Compassion uttered
Fragility bypassed
And the scars
Of their opponents
Kissed by humility

Landing stinging uppercuts to
Machismo and self-centredness
With such regularity and accuracy

Delivering a
Stunning left to self-obsession
Sending domination
Sprawling to the canvas
To contemplate the image of itself

Such a solid blow to illusion
When champions
Stand before a mirror
Still looking for the victor and
See they were the fighter of themselves

But now
Finalists are congratulated
For hanging in there
And holding on
And looking for a gentler way

Seconds out, round done