It’s been ten years since they dragged you away kicking and screaming,
Glory days long gone, running only on pride, the fuel source burns out fast, the goal plausible only in your mind,
Blocked at every turn, by medics concerned for your well-being, also by fellow competitors reluctant to waste time with old and washed-up has-beens,
It was the end of the road, you were adrift with no final destination, might as well call it quits, defying your heart’s urgings,
Pursued different paths in retirement, took to ‘em like mismatched puzzle pieces, that appetite for combat insatiable, born fighters be restless in times of peace and quiet,
Got various debts, too, to pay off, born out of bad luck and your own misjudgement,
Stuck to you like glue, can’t shake ‘em, not while bereft of your main source of income,
Still getting by anyway, treading water on most days, while time marches on with precious few breaks,
An opportunity of sorts popped up one day, out of the blue,
Whether it was smart or a fool’s errand inconsequential, sounded too good to be true,
A return to the grand stage where you once shone, a chance to turn back the clock,
Maybe to ease your burdens, a chance to overcome life’s stumbling blocks,
But it doesn’t work that way, can’t mask reality with ego and delusion,
Even in an exhibition it was over in less than a minute, with you on the wrong end of it,
Time to walk away, it’s a young man’s game, the ring is no longer your sanctuary,
You’d had your time, been a quarter of a decade now, soldiering on can only lead to catastrophes,
Your name still carries weight, why not explore other ventures? Some of your former peers have done that, life for them as sweet as sugar,
Maybe pass on your craft, to the young’uns that still look up to you, including one of your own, why not be a mentor to whom he can turn to?
Whichever way you go, wish you nothing but the best,
You gave your all to entertain, your legacy shouldn’t end in vain.