The Tent Boxing Troupe
The Tent Boxing Troupe
“Step up, step up
Tent boxing’s the game,
If you can fight,
Come make your name.
Meet the Cowboy,
Still to be beat
After 12 long years
Not once off his feet.
Do I see a challenger,
Just one likely lad?
If you just go the distance
The money’s not bad.
Strut for the ladies,
Show them your might.
Impress with your bravery,
It could be your night.
You Sir in the back,
You appear a strong man.
Step up to the ring,
Please give him a hand.
How much do you weigh Sir?
Two hundred, you say,
The Cowboy’s much lighter
He could lose today.”
But the grin on his face
And the fighter’s wink back,
Said we’ve been here before
Let’s give him a crack.
The crowd cheered their local,
The first round was close.
Both dodging and weaving,
But few punches thrown.
The second round started
At the sound of a gong.
The Cowboy was acting
He urged his foe on.
The young man threw a punch
That missed by a mile.
The cowboy ducked sideways
His face cracked a smile.
With a flurry of jabs
And a right to the chin
The cowboy attacked,
And the towel was thrown in.
“Good effort young fellow,
You gave it a go.
Most don’t last the first round,
So don’t feel too low.
A hand for your local boy,
Ladies and gents.
He did the town proud,
‘Gainst the champ of the tents.
Now meet the next fighter,
Come, who’ll take him on?
Surely there’s one man,
Who’s agile and strong.”
The show must go on
As it moves town to town.
Brave locals step up
But most get knocked down.
Just two or three fight troupes
In Australia still roam.
They travel the outback
A long way from home.
But if they may come
To a town that you know
Calling “Step up, step up”
Will you give it a go?
by John Hansen 2013
Now I find myself branching out and experimenting with short fiction, and thoroughly enjoying this, especially flash fiction.
I have been fortunate to have two poems made into songs and recorded. The first "On the Road to Kingdom Come" by Al Wordlaw, and the second, "If I Could Write a Love Poem" by award-winning Israeli/British singer Tally Koren.
My services increasingly in demand as a freelance writer and I have ghost-written the text for a number of children's books and educational tutorials.
It has taken me many years of searching and restlessness to realise that my life's passion is to write. It saddens me that I wasted so many years not devoting to that, but thinking positively, the experiences gained over those years are now wonderful material for my stories and poems.
I want to try to bring a new focus on poetry and try to make it appealing to a new generation of young people and those who thought they never liked or understood it before.
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Well penned John, back in the day, I would have stepped forward, but now too old to throw that punch that left me a winner. The golden gloves I fought for in my weight class and lost, yet a contender I was and proud that I could take a punch, my jaw was not glass then and I enjoyed the bouts. So indeed young me, step up and give it a go, a purse may await you and a winner you be. I loved the pace of this piece John, well penned, brought back a few memories of my wayward youth:-)) Cheers.
Hi Vincent. I went to a few of these at Carnivals and Shows when I was a kid with my dad and always enjoyed the spectacle. I imagined ‘stepping up’ to take on the champ but alas I was too young. My dad told me tales of him and his brothers actually doing it to make a few bucks and one of his brothers actually always won his bouts. Glad you enjoyed and it brought back memories.
A nicely penned tale of a dying tradition. Well done John, flowed well and filled with imagery. I can just imagine being there. Cheers!
Hey, Tony. Glad my words could instil the sense of being there at the tent fights. Thanks for reading and the kind comment.
What a fun read and so well penned with great rhyme. Fantastic work, John.
Thank you Phyllis. I had fun writing this and I thought the short punchy lines suited the topic. Much appreciated.
Excellent piece John. Quick like the flurry of jabs from the cowboy. Great rhyming and feel to this one, almost like I was sitting in the tent or a town square waiting for someone to step up and beat the champ.
Thank you, Paul. I am glad I accomplished the sharp punchy feel I intended and the atmosphere of the boxing tent. Cheers.
Who is going to step up next, I wonder. Went back to those days through your poem, nicely penned.
Good to see you Nithya. I am glad this poem took you back there to the days of the boxing troups.