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He said he was the greatest...a bold and boastful claim...
he changed his sport forever...Cassius was his name.
He said we'd never forget...his dramatic and daring debut...
he prophesied with poetry...then set about to do...
all the sensational stunts...he knew would make them see...
that he was not the boxer...the world expected him to be.
Many wanted to see him lose...to punish him for his pride...
many wanted to see him win...to glorify his ride...
some just wanted to take a look...he had this curious appeal...
some don't really know why they watched...but he made everyone feel...
that history was in the making...this was no ordinary man...
he was about to shake things up...the Olympics was where it began.
Everyone had an opinion...one man had managed to revive...
the interest of the entire world...Cassius made boxing alive.
But he was so much more...than the best in the world in his sport...
he came along at a time...when the world needed to see...
that the color of skin just didn't matter...the world loved Muhammad Ali.
And that's the way it should be...judge the man because...
of all the things he stands for...judge him by what he does.
A blind friend one time told me...that sighted people can't hear...
they judge by beauty and color...and react out of ignorance and fear.
sometimes we just hear the words...the ideas always make the man...
sometimes we hear with our eyes...we see but we don't understand.
Ali was more than a boxer...and his place in history will show...
that he helped to close the gap...as he tried to let everyone know...
that black or white...red or brown...all of us want the same things...
peace in the world...safety for our children...the freedom that security
brings.
Each of us has his way...to contribute to the human race...
too few choose to do anything...to make this a better place.
Muhammad Ali changed the world...and someday we may see...
with our minds instead of our eyes...and maybe then we can be...
the kind of people who deserve...such a beautiful, wonderful world...
the earth can still be Paradise...if the little boys and girls...
can someday see what he saw...as he looked out from the middle of the
ring...
and only saw friends...cheering together...for the man who would be king.
Ali had a dream...just like Martin...but the belt was only a means...
for him to make a difference...as he lessened the distance between us.
When all of us see as clearly...as the blind man who sees with his brain...
maybe then we can rid the world...of the prejudice, bigotry, and pain.
He floated like a butterfly...and stung like a bee...and life never will
make him fall...
Ali truly is the greatest...because he left a mark on us all.
Muhammad Ali is a symbol...of courage, compassion, and drive...
The world is better because of him...Ali kept hope alive...
Thank you for a lifetime of thrills...thanks for allowing us to see...
the finest boxer who ever lived...The Greatest...Muhammad Ali.
copyright 1999 skybird publishing company
james bruce joseph sievers |
