Prizefighter by Gwil James Thomas

Sat at the ringside, with my little brother 

we’d watched an old friend 

take punch after punch in the ring. 

It was hard not to think back 

to our friend in school –

he’d been short, smiley and content,

an easy target for any bully 

hoping to pass on their suffering. 

And yet slowly but surely, 

our friend then began dodging 

his opponents punches – 

tiring him out, before he’d delivered 

the perfect uppercut to his opponent – 

knocking him out, as he’d tumbled down 

and I’d waited for small cartoon stars 

to circle his opponent’s head, 

as our friend smiled to a speechless crowd – 

winning his first professional match. 

I think of that tonight, as end times feel near, 

or at least overdue, in this world full 

of plagues, lost souls, and crazed dictators – 

reminding myself that there is still hope, 

even when the world has you on the ropes.

Gwil James Thomas is a poet, novelist and inept musician. He lives in his hometown of Bristol, England, but has also lived in London, Brighton and Spain. He has twice been nominated for Best of The Net and once for The Pushcart Prize. His ninth chapbook of poetry, Gold Chains Around our Necks, Hellhounds at our Heels will be published by Holy & Intoxicated publications in 2022.