A hook, a swing, a heavy straight -
I’m cracking like a nut...
My vis-a-vis, a welterweight,
Hits hard an upper-cut.

He corners me, he hits me more,
I hardly hold on...
Another hook - I’m on the floor,
And I am almost gone.

My rival was thinking while mincing my face:
“Boy, life is so cool and I am the ace!”

The ref yells “Nine!” - I’m half alive,
But I get up again...
I dodge, I leap, I block, I dive
And even points I gain!

It’s not that for the final phase
My vigor I reserve.
I’ve never hit somebody’s face -
Just haven’t got the nerve!

My rival was thinking while mincing my face:
“Boy, life is so cool and I am the ace!”

The crowd roars: ”Don’t yield an inch!
Knock out this timid dope!”
My rival gets into a clinch
And I cling to a rope!

He works non-stop, he’s real tough,
He saves no jabs, no whacks;
I whispered then: ”You’ve toiled enough,
You’re tired, man, relax!”

But he went on thinking still mincing my face:
“Boy, life is so cool and I am the ace!”

He keeps on punching with a snort,
The curtain soon must fall...
Don’t call this murder - it’s the sport
Of manliness and all...

He tried too hard and in the end,
Exhausted, down he broke...
The referee raised up my hand
Which had produced no stroke!

He was now lying and thought: ”Life is cool,
But one is quite smart and another - a fool!”