THE LAST BRAWL

THE LAST BRAWL A barber told a story, onceOf how a great wrestler, he wasChampion of champions, fearedIn all the clans and beyondOkop ide, the cat, whose backNever touched the ground. When some women came acrossA limbless entity on their wayTo the evening stream, they ranBack to him, for a wrestling matchAs he had defeated all the men beforeHe dashed to the scene and there it was. What he saw was not human at allOr anything he had ever seenLike a shaded spot on the groundCreeping in with the darkening nightOn seeing him, it moved and spunTo the middle of the road for a fight. He charged in, throwing punchesAt the empty space in front of himThe entity grew as tall as the skySapping all his strength with itHe struggled to free from its spellGripped with fear, he ran for help. The waiting crowd meant nothingHe was alone, or so he thoughtHe could feel its penetrating presenceSo he begged to be covered upAnd made a vow before all them allThat he would never wrestle again.