Tag Archives: fight

Champion Warrior

3 Mar

My good friend Fitz “The Whip” Vanderpool just won the Canadian Middleweight Title in his mid 40′s despite most people telling him he was too old. Once again, the Whip proves that “With Hope, It’s Possible!”

title

Champion Warrior

They told him “It’s too late, old man”
“You’re much too old to fight”
But Fitz “The Whip” knew that to be
Judged by age isn’t right

Those who judged were short sighted
And didn’t see the training
The heart, desire, sacrifice
The passion still remaining

The board, the public, so many
Gave doubt and disbelief
They tried to steal his Hope and tried
To fill his heart with grief

But Champions are not affected
By another’s words
Champions are not sheep that
Walk along with the herds

Champions look within and
They listen to themselves
A Champion sees strength inside
And bravely, deeper delves

A Champion does not hear what
The pessimists do warn
A Champion blocks it all out
‘Cause Champions were born

To jab, to hook, to uppercut
To fight ‘till final round
To take all that life has to give
And pound and pound and pound

And rip respect from clutches of
Those who don’t try their best
To take it by force from all those
Who much prefer to rest

Congratulations, Champion
You have proven once more
That with Hope it is possible
Now no one can ignore

~Congrats Fitz “The Whip” Vanderpool, 45 years young
New National Boxing Authority Middleweight Champion
March 2nd, 2013

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Silence

16 Jan

“Silence is a source of great strength.” ~Lao Tzu

Silence 2
Silence

The silly normals spit and fight
And spew their rage with all their might
But even when they squeal their loudest scream

All theatrics are no match
For calm which always does dispatch
Their anger and makes it run out of steam

Silence is the greatest foe
Of those who complain of their woe
To say nothing back does create a void

That sucks in all the vengeful bile
While it returns just a slight smile
Leaving argument weak and destroyed

Silence is a weapon all
Possess but most don’t have the gall
To look a shouting person in the eye

And take all of the hateful talk
And be able to not let shock
And not feel driven to loudly reply

To not let a fool control speech
Instead to show, to lead, to teach
To forsake all the snide remarks and wit

To hear their ignorance and not
Feel compelled to return the shot
Instead to land a different kind of hit

The strike of grace across their chest
When only silence is expressed
To take ugliness and not give it back

The ones who can’t control their mouth
All feel a thundering kick south
When there is a silent counter-attack

When one stands fast and looks in eyes
And doesn’t blink while they hear lies
And doesn’t let “injustice” irritate

And rather than be affected
Their silent strength is projected
In ways that are impossible to state

                                                   -Miro

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I Disagree

21 Dec

“I disagree.” If you say nothing else, at least say that…

disagree

I Disagree

I had the chance to overhear
A couple chaps who sat
Down around where I set up
To write and heard them chat

About the latest shooting and
Solutions to avoid
Future tragedies but the
Discussion was devoid

Of something that I’ve noticed:
That whenever someone shoots
A building full of people that
Everyone runs and scoots

The shooter always gives up or
They commit suicide
You hardly ever hear of victims
Who charge and collide

You hardly ever hear of victims
Rising to revolt
When gunfire sprays the reaction
Is shock, fear and to bolt

I wondered what would happen if
A psycho opened fire
Upon a crowd and there within
The confusion and mire

There stood a Warrior who charged
Or maybe two or three
Who rather than saving themselves
Embraced adversity

Who tackled the assailant down
And tore them limb from limb
Who’d trained to deal with focus and
Control when times are grim

Perhaps a former soldier or
An officer of law
Similar to air marshals
Who have been trained to draw

Their weapon or to jump forward
When many would jump back
Who do not run from danger but
Attack, attack, attack

The discussion got sidetracked as
Most debates often do
An ego was presented with
A bit too much to chew

Words got misinterpreted
And point misunderstood
To further try to clarify
I knew would do no good

And so the most important thing
To be made loud and clear
While one of them was getting a
Bit touchy and severe

Was that I disagreed and so
I said it with a smile
“I disagree with you” I said
And I was not hostile

But my expression and my tone
Were ignored like my thoughts
He took it as an insult which
Seemed to tie him in knots

He looked offended, angry and
He looked very confused
“I disagree with you” I did
Repeat ‘cause I refused

I saw him as a man who always
Felt the need to “win”
And here, now, bitter stalemate which
Caused him so much chagrin

I showed that I no longer cared
To argue and debate
But wouldn’t concede anything
Which made his joy deflate

Be weary of people like this
Whose joy hinges on “beating”
Other people’s opinions
Their joy lies in competing

So even if you have nothing
To say, just disagree
Say the words and let them know
“That doesn’t work for me”

Don’t defend your reasons why
And don’t you dare explain
To enter into pointless banter
Only serves to drain

Instead, pay close attention to
Reaction that you get
Study facial expressions
You see a hint of fret?

Is that a person who takes it
Too personal when they
Aren’t able to get the crowd
To acknowledge their way?

Do they get into a huff? Do
They look so stunned, aghast?
When someone disagrees do they
Seem as if they’re harassed?

If they give off these warning signs
Then you should see them clear
It is someone who uses mouth
But doesn’t use an ear

“I disagree” and let it go
And soon you will feel grace
A look of peacefulness should shortly
Wash over your face

And do not be surprised if others
Fail to recognize
It’s one of many things that is
Concealed from ego’s eyes

But hold fast and repeat your words
“I disagree” and see
Who can leave it at that and
Who feels the need to flee

Because they get a boo-boo face
Whenever they can’t win
While there upon your own face is
A calm and peaceful grin

                                  ~Miro

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Distant Bullies

25 Oct

 

A little story about the nature and psychology of bullies: No poems about this encounter, just another example of how “people lie” and don’t present themselves as they really are. As I was walking on the sidewalk today, a young man wearing sunglasses and a hood bobbed from side to side as he walked in “thuggish” manner. His exaggerated movements made it impossible to *not* notice him. As he passed by, he angrily looked at me and said “What the fuck you looking at?” As I continued, I heard him continue to threaten me, saying, “You got a problem? You don’t know me, don’t be lookin’ at me!” Most people would continue walking. Most would feel intimidated and think, “Oh God, I don’t need this, please just leave me alone.” Most people aren’t Warriors though…

I turned around and looked at him, despite his warning. I didn’t return any insults, nor did I look angry or exhibit any hostility towards him. I simply stood and watched him, blankly. He pulled off his sunglasses and started walking towards me and continued to spout his brave threats…until he was about 6 feet away from me. Then something typical happened. As with most bullies, he became a coward once proximity was no longer protecting him. He backed into a door to a store, flung it open, threatened me once again with bodily harm and then disappeared into the store, as if he had meant to go in all along. As he entered, I said only one word to him, calmly: “Relax.” He had no response to this person who dared look at him and tell him what to do.

Ever since I stopped walking away from bullies, this has happened on every single occasion with people who have threatened me or tried to physically intimate me. No exceptions, my friends. People continue to warn me and say “One of these days, you’re going to get yourself in trouble!” but those people are comfort addicts. Let me make it clear that I don’t approach these bullies and I don’t verbally engage them. I simply stand there and watch. You know how they say dogs can sense fear? People are similar, they can sense when someone has no fear. And it scares the shit out of them. Remember that next time someone threatens you. Remember that “people lie.” Being afraid will only feed the monster. If you simply stand your ground and give them nothing, it forces *them* to act, not react. And that’s something bullies just don’t like to do: think and act on their own.

True story.

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The Old Child

17 Jan

“A warrior is never under siege. To be under siege implies that one has personal possessions that could be blockaded. A warrior has nothing in the world except his impeccability, and impeccability cannot be threatened.” ~Don Juan

The Old Child
(based on a true story)

The other day at City Hall
While I sat and did write
Beside me I heard an old man
Complain and bitch and fight

He spoke on his cell phone to someone
That had let him down
He berated and badmouthed them
While wearing quite a frown

After several minutes he
Then made another call
This person too was on the end
Of his frustrated brawl

He talked of self-importance and
How he won’t stand for it
And swore a blue streak while he threw
A little child’s fit

And just as he finished his call
A young man sauntered by
And asked him for a smoke because
His carton had run dry

This old man man scoffed and said “No way
Why don’t you get a job?”
A dirty look of disgust was
What he then chose to lob

The young man then moved on to me
And made the same request
I made an effort to be nice
And smile as I confessed

“I don’t smoke” and he smiled back
But after a few feet
He turned around and walked back to
The first man he did greet

“You do not have to be so rude”
The young man said to old
“Go to hell!” the old man said
And other words did scold

The young man took another step
Said “Got a problem, pal?”
Suddenly the old man had
Not quite as much morale

“No,” he said and waved him off
And young man walked away
Old man then turned to face me
Expecting me to say

“What a jerk” or “little punk”
But instead I asked him
“What’s the greatest purpose in
Your life?” which made him grim

He got upset just as he had
With two calls and the smoker
He called me way too deep and some
Brainwashed pathetic joker

I calmly said “That’s the problem
You don’t think deep enough
You’re more concerned with shallow thoughts
Like acting big and tough”

I watched calmly as ego writhed
And spat and flailed away
Feeling as if under fire
With venom to spray

I told him “When I’m gone and you
Have no need to posture
When ego is alone you’ll hear
Your own truth and be sure

That serving others is what we
Are placed here to achieve
The ones who serve only themselves
Are those who always grieve”

He blew things out of proportion
And missed many a notion
“What am I supposed to do?”
He said with great commotion

“I don’t have any smokes so what
Do you want me to do?”
I said “Just ‘cause you can’t oblige
Does not mean you must spew

Anger, hatred, disrespect
And treat people so poor”
Then I mentioned his two calls
Which made him insecure

He got up in a huff and said
He’d had enough of me
I told him that he was still young
But one day he would see

He laughed and said he was older
Than me but I inquired:
“Does age to you only mean how
Many years have expired?

Or does it mean how much you’ve learned
How much grace you’ve amassed
Or is it just how many days
Of breathing that have passed?”

Once again his ego screamed
And said “If you’re so nice
Why don’t you go give that stupid
Bum your Mac device?”

“You’ve missed the point” I said again
“He didn’t ask for it
He asked me for a smoke and then
He smiled with no fit

For you he turned around and wanted
To engage in war
And you backed down ‘cause of the two
It seems that you had more

To lose, and that’s the root of why
You’re always so upset
You cause your own frustration when
You want but you don’t get

You don’t accept what is, instead
You swear and point a finger
Never realizing how
Your hateful words do linger”

There’s only so much truth that an
Old child can hear at once
He gathered all his things and stood
While calling me a dunce

I noted that he once again
Was seeking comfort ‘cause
He didn’t find it comfortable
To have his brain abuzz

All he wanted from me was
A nod in agreement
But warriors do not pander
To those who rant and vent

And I imagine once that old
Child has cooled his mind
Let go of his anger and
Looked within he will find

That he’s in fact the cause of all
His unrest and turmoil
There’s only one person to blame
Just one that is his foil

I saw a light bulb moment when
I told him that old truth
For just one second he did not
Look so much like a youth

And that’s because no matter how
Upset we may all get
The truth deep down inside of us
Illuminates our fret

He walked away while mumbling
With much to think about
Deep thoughts which will cast his selfish
Way of life in doubt

That wisdom has little to do
With years or centuries
Some are youthful wise old souls
And some, just old babies

                               ~Miro

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Cling

6 Jan

“I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” ~James A. Baldwin

Cling

There’s a quote about hate
That I’d like to share
You never know, maybe
It will help repair

From the warrior poet
A James Baldwin quote
About the nature of hate
Here’s what he wrote:

“I imagine,” James writes
“One of the reasons why
People cling to their hates
And won’t let them die

With such stubbornness
Is because that they sense
That once hate is gone
There’s a painful expense”

The hate is a wall
That keeps the pain back
Forgiveness will only
Cause it to crack

And crumble and fall
Expose all the hurt
And with no wall to cling to
You cannot avert

Dealing with issues
Of ego and pride
Having to hear
The opposing side

Meeting half way
When you’re so sure you’re right
Admitting things should have
Gone different that night

Taking the blame
If they need to vent
Biting your tongue
Until they relent

Saying “I’m sorry”
When you’d much rather say
Something more hateful
With venom to spray

But stand there and take it
And deal with the pain
No matter how much
You feel that you wane

Just keep in mind
As you bear to endeavor
The storm will soon pass
No pain lasts forever

And what is left over
Will rejuvenate
Your wounds from the onslaught
From all of the hate

It’s the feeling that you
Chose to mend and repair
Rather than cling
To hate and despair

That you let go your grip
On the hateful blockade
And stand in love’s light
And not in hate’s shade

                                      ~Miro

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The Offender

2 Jan

“Someday a computer will give a wrong answer to spare someone’s feelings, and man will have invented artificial intelligence.”  ~Robert Brault

The Offender

There once was a man who offended
The same people that he defended
Though he cared for them deeply
They took his words cheaply
And not the way he had intended

When Offender spoke of their weakness
They were overcome with much bleakness
Everyone in the joint
Seemed to just miss the point:
That they had to unlock their uniqueness

He saw them all falling in line
Like everyone else fret and whine
He knew they were greater
Than the average hater
If they’d all just show a little spine

But Ego was this man’s arch foe
It made folks feel hurt and say “NO!”
“You’ve hurt my feelings!”
“We’ll have no more dealings!”
“Take your observations and go!”

And so Offender packed his things
And carried on, spreading his wings
One day the offended
His words comprehended
When Ego stopped feeling their stings

“My God, he spoke truth all along!”
“It wasn’t ‘I’m right and you’re wrong!’”
“He didn’t mean it
To just cause me a fit”
“He was trying to show me I’m strong!”

Funny thing to take offense
To feel hurt and go on defense
When you know that it’s not
An attack or a plot
You might just learn something immense

                                                       ~Miro

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Madness vs Wisdom

15 Dec

Madness vs Wisdom

At the dawn of time, two forces
Came into existence
One was Wisdom, made of peace
And Madness, from resistance

The force of Wisdom saw things as
The way they really were
Madness, on the other hand
Saw what it did prefer

And when it turned out things were not
Precisely as it wanted
Madness lost control and felt
Frustrated, angry, haunted

It couldn’t let it go because
It thought that it knew best
Wisdom on the other hand
Did never feel as stressed

It took its peace of mind in knowing
That things cannot be
Exactly as the vision in
Your mind that you may see

Instead it opened itself up
To different paths and ways
Seeing obstacles as more
Than annoying delays

Wisdom recognized that those
Are opportunities
To learn, to train, to grow, not just
Struggles meant to displease

Eventually there came a day
When Wisdom and Madness
Crossed each other’s paths and blocked
Each other’s own progress

Madness used it’s anger and
It’s hateful, spiteful talk
It circled and it attacked and
It pushed and pulled and stalked

Wisdom fought with all its strength
But not by the same means
Instead it relied on its training
And all its routines

It let Madness do all it did
And did not expect more
It stood firm with its peace of mind
And waged a peaceful war

And what Madness soon learned was that
It could not maintain hate
For an indefinite time
It was far too much weight

It grew tired and silent in
The face of Wisdom’s peace
The hateful words and violent acts
Eventually did cease

And as Madness sat and recouped
Wisdom simply walked on
Walking into horizon
Until all trace was gone

It didn’t gloat of victory
It let it go instead
Just as it did with the acts
That had intended dread

Madness would recover and
Many foes would it thwart
But against one enemy
It always came up short

Madness vs Wisdom was
Always the same outcome
Because Wisdom was not entrenched
It never could succumb

It flowed and bent and let go of
Whatever came its way
And when the two collide, it’s still
The same result today

              ~Miro

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Lack of Patience

14 Oct

Lack of Patience

Most of my writings deal with
An introspective view
The process of learning oneself
So we won’t turn the screw

So that we do not make things worse
When challenges arise
So that we walk away from them
Stronger, more patient, wise

We know what we must do to build
Our patience and our poise
But for a change, let’s now address
The ones who make the noise

The ones who try our patience ‘cause
They have none of their own
The ones who lose their cool because
They make things overblown

Who think that insignificant
Matters are life and death
Who haven’t figured out just yet
The value of a breath

When our patience is tested
Most often it’s one who
Doesn’t have the same patience,
Focus or poise as you

Make it very clear to them
That you won’t be controlled
Impatience has a way of spreading
Clutching, grabbing hold

If they raise their voice and have
Frustration in their tone
Don’t respond by raising yours
Or giving them a groan

Lao Tzu once said that silence can
Be a source of great strength
The ones who like to shout are too
Weak to go to that length

In the face of aggression
Of words that sting and bite
Don’t let your ego control
Your mouth and start a fight

Use silence to give you strength
Make quiet moments roar
Your strength will cause the shouter to
Not want to fight that war

Because it’s not the kind they want
It’s not a shouting match
They know that in a war of patience
You won’t get a scratch

In the face of angry words
And bickering and sighs
Use your words with quiet strength
And show that you are wise

Do not let their attitude
Influence how you act
A warrior’s patience is so
Strong that it can’t be cracked

It’s able to wait quite a while
For their impatience to
Kick and scream itself tired
While it keeps turning screw

All the while, you grow stronger
Focused and in control
Before too long your patience will
Have taken quite a toll

On impatient ones before you
They will simmer down
They’ll wonder why they got upset
And acted like a clown

That’s the power, influence
That warriors have on
The weak-minded and uncontrolled
When they become withdrawn

From drama, ego, sensitive
Feelings of people who
Lack your patience and attempt
To spread it on to you

                                    Miro

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Spoiling for a Fight

4 Oct

Spoiling for a Fight

There will always be people
Who will walk up to you
With a sneer upon their face
And hatred they will spew

They’ll be upset about something
That you have said or done
They’ll make it very evident
That their patience is none

They’ll point a finger at you and
Accuse you of wrongdoing
They’ll ‘let off steam’ by scolding you
And not themselves reviewing

Just the other day someone
Walked up to me and had
A complaint they wanted to air
They were upset a tad

I turned around in their driveway
And they saw fit to leave
Their home to walk up to me and
Proceed to bitch and grieve

At first I couldn’t hear their words
Because I wore earphones
Listening to relaxing
And harmonious tones

I thought it strange that this person
Who watched me like a hawk
When I put my car on their
Driveway would come and squawk

And not notice I couldn’t hear
While wearing my headset
Guess they were too busy being
Angry and upset

I turned off tunes to hear them say
They’ve had all they can take
For some reason this has caused them
A very heavy ache

They furrowed brow and spat their rage
And levied me a fee
Every single past offense
Was to be paid by me

All I saw was a small person
Petty, selfish, weak
The kind who gave lame compliments
But was quick to critique

I saw them spoiling for a fight
And wanting to provoke
The sleeping beast inside of me
Because their own awoke

The words of a great warrior
Echoed deep in my mind
My own patience and fortitude
His teachings did remind

He said that a true warrior
Will take control and act
A fool is someone who reflects
A fool will just react

A fool is one who will mimic
The weakness that they see
A fool allows attacker to
Decide who they will be

As this upset person who was
Spoiling for a fight
Spouted off their barbs I did not
Let their words incite

I simply held my tongue and gave
A warm and gentle smile
Not allowing them to change
My mood from peace to vile

The more that I simply smiled and
Remained completely silent
The more confused they seemed to get
Along with that, less violent

Their rage began to lose some steam
And they began to mumble
Loud and angry accusations
Now just a faint grumble

They turned around in confusion
And walked away, ashamed
At least that’s how it seemed to me
‘Cause my resolve had tamed

Whatever was inside of them
That hungered for a fight
Eager to explode over
Things so mundane and trite

When people think of warriors
They think of blood and death
The truth is that a warrior
Is all about deep breath

Patience, poise and full control
A loving, peaceful heart
Unwavering courage that
On others should impart

Never in a rage because
They didn’t get a want
Never letting go of peace
Because someone did taunt

Understanding that a battle
Is a last resort
Recognizing arguments
Are best to be kept short

And never spoiling for a fight
Or indulging one too
When petty people lose their calm
A warrior stays true

                               Miro

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