The Fight
By Allen Forrest
I’ve never been the type that liked fist fights.
Some’d call me a wimp, pussy, coward.
Say I have no courage.
I’d say there’s different types of courage.
The type that uses the brawn and the type that uses the brain.
Throughout my life there have been times when I was in a brawl
or close to getting in one.
I’ve had my ass whooped.
It is an awful feeling.
But so is having hurt someone.
That’s bad too.
If it’s in self defense then I say you must.
If it’s in ego defense, then I’d say take a step back and a deep breath.
It’s not the movies.
People don’t always walk away from the real thing.
Like I said there are different types of courage.
Mine may not be the same as yours.
There’s a very quiet type.
A determined resolve to keep going despite the odds,
despite the set-backs, the loneliness, the rejections,
the overwhelming nature of the effort.
That’s a rare courage.
Few and far between.
Artists have to have it.
No matter the failure, no matter.
Keep going. Keep trying.
That’s the type of courage I admire.
When most would give up.
There’s that one who sticks with it.
When all others around toss in the sponge.
Not them.
Their fight is not with their fists.
But with the creative act.
With the ability to make something worthwhile for all to see, read, hear—
stand your ground fighter, stand and deliver.
