Stripped to the buff they circled round,
And jagged and swung and crossed;
To uppercut and smash and pound
No chances either lost;
Till folks opined, in some alarm,
That they might do each other harm.
Fiercely, they swung the left and right,
With punch and bash and clout:
Each grimly hopeful that he might
Secure the glad knock-out.
And, as they watched the “claret” spurt,
The crowd feared someone might be hurt.
The ribs of one were bruised and sore,
His chin was badly gashed;
The other’s face was streaked with gore;
And yet they biffed and bashed.
And someone said, “It this goes on
There’ll be an injury anon.”
Harder and swifter rained the blows,
And fiercer grew the fray;
At chest and chin and eye and nose
Each boxer biffed away;
Till cried the audience in fright,
If they’re not stopped they’ll start to fight!”
But on they battled, bruised and dazed,
Scarce able now to stand;
Until the Law stepped in and raised
A stern, restraining hand.
“Ah!” sighed the crowd, freed from suspense,
“It might have led to violence.”
(C J Dennis)
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Based on Topics: Faces Poems, Law & Regulation Poems, Violence PoemsBased on Keywords: buff, restraining, gashed, claret, boxer, bashed, bash, knock-out, opined, biffed, uppercut
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