(slow-monoii replay of the finish)
internet dorks make
big deal of “bizarre basho”,
but hey, that is sport
but organized sport is just
bizarre human spectacle
as much performance
as competition - nowhere
truer than sumo
so what three yokozuna
are out, plus an ozeki
where’s stubborn gaiman,
that cherished Japanese trait
of persevering?
of ignoring injury
and continuing to fight
my friend, I tell you,
look no further than blowed out
foot Tamawashi
two days ago, he battled
(and injured) Takayasu
Tamawashi’s right
ankle twisted in awful
godforsaken which ways
Takayasu got
carted into gone fusen;
not Tamawashi
yesterday, he could
barely walk, but still came out,
walking gingerly
Onosho was merciless,
as one would expect with this
day four, again comes
Tamawashi, refusing
to accept his pain
facing Mitakeumi,
the young sumo sensation
eight previous times,
Tamawashi never beat
Mitakeumi
on one solid ankle though,
he launches full-blast day four
Mitakeumi slides back,
hits the edge, twists opponent
Mitakeumi
makes desperate effort to
flip Tamawashi
it works - both men going down
in heap of fat but thick flesh
gyoji (the ref)
points his official fan at
Mitakeumi
but there is question, so the
ringside judges all confer
upon review, right foot
of Mitakeumi
stomps out before fall
one-ankled Tamawashi
has stubbornly persisted
two wins two losses
after four days - not front page
sports section headline
but his fighting spirit’s strong -
nothing bizarre in sumo
let the injured quit -
justified or not; stubborn
warriors will fight on
perhaps humans will soon face
cataclysmic world events
who will be the few
who survive? those who possess
the most stubborn will
there’s nothing to save up for -
death could arrive any day
death could arrive any day
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