Boxing Match

Masters of the art

are a marvelous sight;

The wise in warfare

are wondrous to behold.

Like strong bulls striking

with their steely horns,

And brazen flanks

broadsides exchanging;

As antelopes,

or antlered moor treaders,

Who deal out dints

for the dark-eyed doe;

Like warring greylags,

their wing-shoulders bristling,

Matching their might

for maidens’ sake;

Like bold male kangaroos,

balanced on their tails,

Their hind-feet flying,

hitting hard,

With pounding kicks

competing for power:

Fire leaps

from flailing fists,

Cloud-light blazes

from clashing shins.

The brazen sky shuddered

at the blows they aimed;

The dints by them dealt

stirred dust and sand.

The wind-blown alighted

on the warriors’ limbs;

The fine-grained settled

on the fighters’ shoulders,

Where it brightened both

their beauteous heads

And shot shimmering rays

from the shoulders of the heroes.