Dhani the Poet?

I am not one to crush on fictitious, mythical creatures like unicorns, magicians and professional athletes. I prefer to shower my unspoken adoration on everyday souls like the cute boy on my floor or the quite man that waits at the bus stop with me every morning.

Recently, though, I took a temporary liking to one of our very own Cincinnati Bengals. I saw him in the flesh at last week's TedXCincy Conference and was pretty impressed by this Renaissance Man. Dhani Jones brings the fury on the field, always rocks a bowtie and also has a poetic side. ::swoon:: Corny, I know!! Though this weekend's abysmally game has caused my crush to wane a bit, I wanted to share his poem anyway. It's amazing what you can find on the Google:)

He's no Daddy Shakes, but it's an interesting piece.

enjoy!

The Punch
BY Dhani Jones

I begin with a journey a magnificent tourney around the globe to stop and see the sights ...
An inviting aroma of new things to discover a world to uncover never turning off the lights ...
It’s a challenge I tell you, to step
I beg you, into the ring I go, for the first not the last but the beginning it is for forty some odd days I will live ...
It’s the first some might say the last others might insist ...
It’s just that time ...
It’s that movement that caught you that spirit that bought you for me to unwind ...
Time and time again I just bob and weave, bob and weave and use what was given a chance to prove what was inside ...
Here’s a man
Here’s a man with the thoughts of a man that I am
Here’s a man living in a heartbeat of time trying to escape the breath and design
Up elbow, right elbow, left elbow, right kick ...
Down elbow, left kick, right punch, left hit ...
A plethora of ideas of power it takes, to control and direct to the right space it must not break ...
It must not disgrace, it must not let down for the eyes are watching me from all around ...
I’ve heard my name spoken not once not twice but the third time around ...
I heard my name ringing in my head when I looked around ...
I realized it was me repeating it time and time again ...
I realize it was me who was getting punched not them ...
On to the bell with great strides I took and put forth all the effort and with pride I was not shook ...
It was my time to use all that I was taught and leverage my voice and my mind for the ultimate thought ...
I must conquer ...
I must live ...
I must set forth to understand and give ...
Of myself and those around me ...
And if one punch I must take, I will take and not break but he who gives shall receive and with ease I decree that this moment ...
I will stand and deliver, bend not fold, yet tell the stories untold ...
I will finish what I started and finish I did ...