Round One

This is for you now, champ.

You deserve for them to amp

your voice up into the sky.

I bet all the planes that fly

so high above us will fall

if only to hear you call

out in that special way you do.

I cannot, no, only you

can be the person that you are.

In this life you will go far.

Keep on pressing, move on tough.

Enough will never be enough.

Move along until your best

is better than all the rest.

You don't have to settle for fourth,

third, or second. You are worth

so much more than they say.

This is your day, only your day.

You can do whatever you like.

Here's your chance, it's your mic.

Round One is about to begin;

fight on until the day you win.

So say 

exactly what you want to;

today, 

exactly what confronts you

can't sway 

exactly what you hunt to

display.

Round One has just begun,

so fight on until you're done.

Gloves on now, it's just begun.

In the ring, here goes round one.

This is your time to make a change.

Your opponent is within your range.

Fighting hard and gaining power,

bathed in sweat like a nasty shower.

Time is nearly up so fight

and when you go to sleep tonight

have no energy left for you to use.

Then wake up and lace up your shoes.

It's time to train again so just go

ahead and put it all in. No

is not an answer. Fight for it

and when you get a victory, adore it.

Take a day to yourself and then enjoy it

before hardships come back and employ it

in the war against your soul and mind.

Take all of it, throw behind

your worries, fears, doubts, and pain.

Today is the beginning of your reign.

Round One is about to begin;

fight on until the day you win.

So say 

exactly what you want to;

today, 

exactly what confronts you

can't sway 

exactly what you hunt to

display.

Round One has just begun,

so fight on until you're done.

Sun in your eyes, you're panting hard;

breathing heavy, feel glass shards

piercing through your body, yet you're scarred

from all the people who did discard

you like some card who lays charred

in the ashes of your past. Guard

yourself with iron bars, barred

in with your crazy dreams. Bards

sing of your failures, your yard

is set on fire. Burn lard

while you run your race. Discard

all thoughts of turning back. Regard

yourself as a champion. They bombard

you with trials but you come through starred,

not scars, you star, no holds barred.

Round One is about to begin;

fight on until the day you win.

So say 

exactly what you want to;

today, 

exactly what confronts you

can't sway 

exactly what you hunt to

display.

Round One has just begun,

so fight on until you're done.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

Positive and strong words.
"Round One has just begun,
so fight on until you're done."
I like the use of the rounds to make your point. Life is a fight and it seemed the fight is never ending. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry Dante.
Coyote

[Not here]

thank you for reading and reviewing coyote :)

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome.

[Nadia Gerassimenko]

I cannot help but see Rocky in this as well. I guess because Rocky is such an amazing role model to follow even though he is fictional. And this in a way is like an inner Bible of how to mold and shape yourself to be you, how to dodge offensive hits of fear and uncertainty, how to strike with confidence and attitude. Excellent work as always.

[Not here]

thank you alot :) i appreciate it

[Lizardo]

Dude, why the heck isn't this on Popular writing? This thing is AMAZING!!!!
Got me pump from the very start, Gosh, apart from Aless, you are my favorite poem writer in this website.
Awesome, just awesome, I wish you could see my applauses.
Really cool man, REally really good

[Not here]

thank you alot lizardo :)

[Lizardo]

You are welcome :) sorry I haven't checked your poems lately, but I will try to read some more

[Willard Wells]

This has the elements of the age old story of the chance to go from poverty to riches. "Rocky" comes to mind as most all boxing stories of greatness have this underlying motive to be the champ. From reading this I expect you do some boxing or MMA. I felt you conveyed the elements and drive that are needed if you have any chance in this form of sport very nicely. And as we all know and as you do convey here, boxing compares to life struggles in many ways.Great piece and thanks for sharing.

[Rodger Tunif]

The first few sections were boring and I was not captured by your poem. I began reading just because I started. It appeared to just be a poem about a boxer because why not. It appeared simply to be an English exercise than an artistic one. Most readers if they are honest will admit that you started slow. However, especially with the third section, the emphasis became clear that it was not only a fighter you are describing, but the struggle of the human against the forces of reality. The will to power, the will to be, exist, and conquer. Now we are talking! The poem certainly became better at this point and your vocabulary became much more sophisticated and interesting; before it was simple and unimaginative. 80 points.

[dan]

At first I thought this would be about the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight but as I read through this is basically a hot-to guide to living a life on one's own terms, knowing which way one wants to go and following that road map from Round 1 through Round 12 (barring a knockout). This speaks of determination in the face of obstacles thrown in one's way, sticking to one's guns when challenged, one person alone but accompanied by courage and the strength of one's convictions. This piece is a sort of rallying cry for one's self. Nicely done. taek care...dan

[JayceeC]

This is well written. I liked the use of interal rhyme as well as the traditional rhyme. The use of refrain makes it a bit like as song.

[Ashadan]

Round One has just begun,
so fight on until you're done.

long and good poem. Thanks for sharing.

[613]

As always, a true gem!

Is it just me or is your writing getting better with each poem? Haha. This one is so uplifting; I loved everything about it. Usually, I'm not into long poems. But when yours' come around, I actually look forward to it. Awesome job.

- Brittney

[Ilerah]

Well written. I don't want to start copping, and pasting, so I'll just say that it was all well written, and that I love the whole thing. Which is in fact, the truth!