A man, a movement,
Whose words stung like a Bee,
But had the masses floating to him,
When he spoke about peace,
He shook up the World like he said he would,
And twisted our perceptions of what it meant to be a true hero,
And for that we thank you.

The earth needed a punch
To move on
You came

The crowd needed a slap
To wake up
Your poetry slammed

The world needed peace
To live on
You fought

The music non-stopping
In and out the ring
Cos box echoes beyond

Jun 11, 2016

He floated like a butterfly,
Stang like a bee –
The one and only
Muhammad Ali.
“I’m The Greatest”, he always said,
20th Century Sports Personality,
Put his rivals to bed.

Yes, he WAS the Greatest, that’s for sure.
Above the rest by a massive score.
Faster than a hummingbird,
Slicker than a snake,
Those quick hands of his
They made opponents quake.

He’d get into bed
Before the light went out.
Rarely a whisper,
Usually a shout.

Like a long-distance runner
Ali had the endurance.
Anyone who fought him
Needed lots of insurance.

Ali was great and didn’t he know it.
A witty speaker and amusing poet.
Some of his lines I’ve used right here:
They had his rivals shaking with fear.

No way would Ali fight the Viet Cong.
For that he merits a Nobel Gong.
He was the champion of the oppressed,
A hero with whom we all were blessed.

He had charisma, way beyond sport.
Ali influenced our every thought.
He’ll call into Hell on the way to Heaven,
To knock out Satan, in round seven.

Paul Butters

The crowd roars.
Out comes the king of the ring.
His silk robe draped over his massive shoulders,
He is looking for a fight.
But beneath those big gloved hands are the hands of a hero.
The hands of a man who never thought of just himself.
The hands that put George Foreman on his ***.
He floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee,
Yet nobody will ever top The Great Ali.

To my hero, and my father’s hero. Rest well.

The ten count is over
He's down for the count
The Greatest is gone from this world

But, we will remember
He will stay here forever
As we think of the quips that he hurled

As fast as his fists flew
His lip was much faster
He rhymed with the greatest of ease

Parkinson's slowed him
But, we will remember
The Greatest of All...ALI

Known by the masses
After his time in the ring
He was an angel sent to this earth

He had his convictions
Became a man of the people
He showed what a real life was worth

A true gentle giant
With the speed of a mongoose
The Louisville Lip...that was he

We all know his trademark
How he floated and stung
The Greatest...Muhammad Ali

In a moment of silence and solitude,
I stand dumfounded in my inner being,
Unable to understand
this life's turmoil.

What to say, what to do?
And above all how to move?
Lost in the labyrinths of my mind.
Oh merciful Lord take pity on us,
Bestow grace, in our hour of entanglements.

Enthralled

To feel the fresh morning
breeze,
In a desert of simmering heat,
Your smile and fluttering
eyelashes are akin to such.

Calm as the midnight sky,
Showering in a cool spring,
Your soothing voice on the
phone washes over me.

Vastness of open oceans,
Connecting the vast continents,
So too does thoughts of you
Fill my heart ... bridging the
distance.

Rhythmic your walk and sway,
Captivating is your movements,
My thoughts center on the desires you titillate.

Welcome song of opening
flowers,
The alluring notes and scents,
You bring all that to my mind,
Capturing me, I'm enraptured.

Your demeanor excites me to no end,
Exciting and wonderful, your beauty,
For you I am ever ready to serve,
Your love has me fully enthralled.

© Perveiz Ali

Progress?

Past:
The days were ever beautiful,
Golden rays and singing waves,
Soothing were such greetings.
Enthusiasm fed by nature's gifts,
Birds dancing amid bright colors,
Spirits raised into heights aloft.
Cheerfulness embedded in goodwill gestures,
Happy steps among aromatic breezes,
Many smiling and giving greetings.
Encouraging words given freely,
Unselfish acts abounded the streets,
Calm nights bathed in twinkling stars.

Now :
Cursing mornings and frightful rays,
Rising to yet another day of misery,
Slothful and devious conspiracies weaved.
Curtains drawn... scared to open,
What new horrors to behold delayed,
The nights wrongs, no rush to behold.
Morning meal's meager if any at all,
Now out into this cruel reality to forage,
Bracing for what fate will now reveal.
The birds sing of sorrowful tales,
Their melodies seem sad and bleary,
Merchants washing fronts..is that blood?
Checking faces to see if any is missing,
Heads shaking hearts pumping in fear,
What next will be the news? Paradise hijacked.

© Perveiz Ali

Fractured Love

The calm nights of twinkling stars,
Brought us out to view their beauty.
We would sit watching in a warm embrace,
Professing our love for each other,
Good times together we did have my love.
Our dedication was to each other so strong.
The long walks together in spring,
Among the lovely blossoms of color.
Life was grand with our love intact,
Eyes glistened with love so sweetly passionate.

Then we drifted far apart, tied to separate lives,
We tried to keep the embers lit and burning.
But alas it was not to be as the flames died,
The stars seem so far away and dim now.
Our eyes now glistening from wet tears,
Our destiny together now fractured.
Two trains on separate tracks passing by,
Our journey now separate and isolated.
Could we have salvaged the feelings?
Can we still be friends as the love is in flight?
© Perveiz Ali