Moorer Denies Holyfield in Twelve

Caesar’s Palace.
The way life keeps splitting itself in two.

Twenty four hours later Florida
had pushed itself under
the wheels of our white Olds.
My father getting out
of the car. I’m squinting, his
shirt is that bright.

I was stunned for a minute
but was able to clear my head.

I’m on the phone now, trying to keep this front
from moving over his white cloud of a head,
because my father used to be two men,
but now he’s old.

One minute, you’re talking weather. Then,
a nasty right hook in the second round.

I didn’t mean to start talking obstacles, hooks,
comebacks.
But, suddenly, I’m going down, saying:

I’ve been holding on with my teeth.
I’ve developed this strange social stutter.

I had to let my cutman go.

–Olena Kalytiak Davis