No Mas
I think about the day that’s coming
when I’m the guy in the boxing ring
with no nose broken & my eye swollen shut
saying No mas, no mas, because there does
come a time when you’re beaten, finished,
but there’s still so much time on the clock.
I like to think I’ll recognize the moment,
lift a glove to the referee & wave off
my opponent, no mas, my nose broken
& my eye swollen shut, still on my feet.
29 thoughts on "No Mas"
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Simple and profound, Kevin.
Thanks Bud!
So very tight and wonderful. Such an apt metaphor, the battle we can’t win.
Thanks Bill!
Just a subtle change at the end. This snippet is fantastic. Bravo!
❤️
There’s a typo in line 3. It should be “my nose,” not “no nose.” Sheesh!
Perfect.
love: “still on my feet.”
❤️
a poem (and poet) of raw truth combined with with a gritty strength in “recognize,” “lift,” “wave off,” and “still on my feet”
Thanks Gaby! I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet you at Cafe Luigart last time!
Yeah I love it.
Like bill said
So tight. Not a wasted word.
“still on my feet.”
Thanks Coleman!
Powerful poem, that makes you think about it long after you’ve read it.
Thanks Karen! That erasure is coming!
So visceral. Really well done, Kevin. (If you want to publish, add an accent on más.)
Thanks, Nancy! And noted.
Thank you for getting the silly version of no mas out of my head and into a deeper poetic life lesson – very visual!
Thanks Sylvia!
Enjoyed how you packed so much meaning in a few words!
❤️
Using Spanish, “no más,” really adds to the fervor! Wonderful sound and rhythm.
Thanks Michele!
there does
come a time when you’re beaten, finished,
but there’s still so much time on the clock.
The metaphor held in the entirety of this poem is spot-on, and every single word earns its keep. Thank you for sharing this terribly apt poem.
❤️
What an immersive, visceral, and completely rendered piece. The craft is impeccable.
Thanks, Shaun!
Great! The repeated line, in different position, hit me on the chin!
Poignant! Lasting!
Thank you for it!