Q is for Quiddity

Jo Bryant

I came up in a time

men were men

didn’t wear no earrings

ain’t hard to figure out

I came up in

Martin Luther King’s time

rough

you take away the ass whuppin’s

you get people wearin’ pants below their belly buttons

nobody knows

where the nose goes

when the door’s closed

called me

ugly

ignorant

too small

a gorilla

the truth

I love to see the Butterfly

I wasn’t a big guy

People thought big guys would eat me up

but

it was the other way around

my Olympic gold medal

gave all eleven of my kids a piece

it’ll come together again

when they put me down

***

quiddity = unique essence; eccentricity

***

This is a found poem taken from an article of quotes from the mouth of a legend.

I saw him fight when boxing was more than a brightly lit circus.

R.I.P Joe Frazier

We know your essence.

***

Posted with many others over at ABC Wednesday: The letter Q

***

The definition of a found poem is: Found poetry is a type of poetry created by taking words, phrases, and sometimes whole passages from other sources and reframing them as poetry by making changes in spacing and/or lines (and consequently meaning), or by altering the text by additions and/or deletions. The resulting poem can be defined as either treated: changed in a profound and systematic manner; or untreated: virtually unchanged from the order, syntax and meaning of the original. Sourced from Wikipedia.

***

Another found poem of mine: Cheap Crazy Love Affair

Published by Jo Bryant

I was born in the land of Banjo Paterson, gum trees, and weather extremes. I am a freelance photographer. I love to make images that make people happy. To capture forever a precious moment. I am also a freelance writer/editor. I live in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, but still like to claim my Australian heritage. I graduated with a Bachelor of Communications in 2008. I am writing my first novel. I love to write poetry, short stories, and also write for the web. And there is nothing that is on a par with a sunny summer's day spent at Waihi Beach.

48 Comments

  9. I didn’t know. Thanks, Jo. Wonderful you were able to see him fight, when boxing was not only immensely popular, but also The Real Thing.
    If Frazier had fought at any other time, when he didn’t have to share the spotlight (or the ring) with Ali, he would have been extremely popular. His trouble was, almost everybody loved Ali. Who can win against a butterfly?
    I started to comment on your post, but went to Google, and posted the news story to my Facebook page. I was raised a fight fan by my father, listening to Marciano fights on the kitchen radio. Olympic and World boxing champions were my heroes when I was a little girl, when I was a teenager, and for quite some time afterward.
    Thanks again, Jo.

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

    Like

    1. Hi Kay – I was a huge fight fan – never missed an Ali fight – or Frazier. He was also a good man – he lent Ali money when he couldn’t fight – so I always found it a bit mean of Ali to taunt him about being an Uncle Tom.

      Like

  10. I am just awe-struck by the diversity, integrity and creativity of the ABC Wednesday gang – what a wonderful post Jo, some lovely words there. Am truly honoured and moved that you chose ABC Wednesday as a platform for this lovely tribute. makes my Nesbitt carpet yarn appear hidious – such is the diversity of ABC Wednesday eh?

    Thanks so much
    Denise ABC Team

    Like

    1. I love the diversity of this group as well – there are so many wonderful experiences to find each week – including your Nesbitt carpet yarn !!!!!!!

      Thanks Denise.
      🙂

      Like

  17. Both Ali and Joe Frazier were very popular here in India too, during my younger days!! I remember the history that was being created in the boxing world then, of course through the newspapers!! Your poem expresses the essence of this wonderful man!! A lovely tribute!!

    Like

  22. Nice to read all the comments about a real man although i suspect I’m showing my age a little (and ignorance of boxing) because I don’t know this guy (sorry). Great word by the way, I might pinch that one myself…..

    Like

  23. Wonderful “Q” word…I remember Clive Barker’s “The Great and Secret Show” talked about quiddity, but it had a somewhat different meaning. As for boxing, I was never a big boxing fan, but can still appreciate the qualities that made Mr. Frasier so well-loved. I didn’t know that he and Ali had a rivalry, but I’ll root for the underdog (in this case, Joe) every time. 😉 You did a really good job with the poem!

    Like

    1. It is funny – when Ali wouldn’t fight in Vietnam, and they took his boxing license away, Joe lent him money. I was a huge Ali fan – but when he started calling Joe ‘Uncle Tom’, after that – it soured it a bit for me. So glad you liked the poem.

      Like

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