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  MY CAREER AS A PUGILIST

  It was Friday Night
  At the San Leandro Boys Club
  1963 and I was looking good!
  My jab was working, right hand
  was getting in, I even heard
  my brother in the audience. I felt
  like a white guy with Floyd Patterson
  in my shoes. I was boxing a black kid
  from Oakland named Lonnie. I had
  imagination. Lonnie had talent.

  I remember waking up floating
  on my back with radiant white light
  blazing down on me with a silhouette
  Standing over me asking "are you alright?"
  I don't know if I'm knocked out
  Or if this is a near death experience
  But I figure that must be the referee
  because if it was God he wouldn't 
  have to ask.

                 --Tom Smario