SIMPLY ALI

Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee
You gave doubting little black boys a reason to believe 
Showed us how to stand when you took the fall
For believing in fairness, which was believing in us all

Inside the ring you won, time and again
And outside the ring you won even more
There was never a man who commanded so much respect
Without a political party and agenda at his core

Black, White, African, Asian, Hispanic
male, female, young and old
Ali not only were you brash in the ring
But fighting for equality is where you were really bold

You traveled the world and set prisoners free
Yet they tried to enslave you at home, not even call you Ali
But you taught them respect, showed them how to love
You beat them with kindness and compassion, never used a boxing glove

Now tributes pour in like waterfalls and they won’t stop
We all have a little piece of you champ, I cherish that thought
That we can change the world, if we take a stand
And that can simply be the kindness of extending your hand
To lift someone up, or even say hello
To share a smile; or a coat when someone’s cold
To join in solidarity to protest a wrong
To be a champion for the weak, help the weary carry on
To help someone believe in the midst of doubt
To teach the confused, how to figure it all out
To help those that hate, love themselves more
To teach those with anger to heal from the core
To forgive and move on, to set pain free
Lets all try to do some of this and we’d have to agree
We’d be like the Champ and change some of this world
That would be the ultimate tribute to Muhammad Ali for sure

Ali you were the greatest of all time
and now the bell has been rung
Your fight is over champ
and the job you did for peace…well done!

©2016 Wayne Box Miller