Cut and Thrust

The secret

of fighting is not strength 

not even skill 

or trickery

although that helps

you must like

the taste 

of blood in your mouth

you must like

the cut and thrust

you must like 

the protest of your lungs

when you’re surging 

up from the ground

when you’ve been

thrown down

hazard

with the exhilaration

of a gambler 

that the next mistake

will fool your 

adversary

into underestimating 

your chances

that their belief

may give you 

a window 

to reach through 

so you may 

crush the 

mote of possibility 

held in your fist

into a fuse 

to light your victory.