that signed book is a special gift,
a gesture of love
she stands in line for hours
in a bookshop on Fifth Avenue

she knows not much about Ali
but when he stands up
he is huge

and when he thanks her for coming
his outstretched hand
is enormous

but for my wife
it’s not the first time
she holds the hand
of a champ







Published in Nerve Cowboy, #27, spring 2009