Monday, November 19, 2018

Anger Mismanagement




image from martialartsplanet.com


Anger Mismanagement

“You will not be punished for your anger--you
will be punished by your anger.”--Buddha.

They called
big Ben Bolt
the Spoiler.

He was a large man
with gentle eyes
and huge hands, but
put a pitcher of beer
in him and he would 
morph into a vicious
bare knuckled
street fighter.

Beer
and his foul temper
cost him
everything.



Glenn Buttkus

Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub
at

17 comments:

  1. lillianthehomepoet.wordpress.comNovember 19, 2018 at 12:47 PM

    hmmmm....well, there really was a Big Ben Bolt comic strip from the 50s to the 70s...about a boxer. Not sure if you are referencing that? In any case, you've given a portraiture here of a man who mismanaged his alcohol - and let it get the better of his temper. Many a person was ruined by drink....
    Did you know my PhD dissertaion was on female alcoholics? I interviewed probably 20 women, at the time in their 70s, who were some of the very first members of AA --- and they did indeed lose everything - some never got back what they lost, even after years and years of sobriety.
    Your post got me thinking back to them....

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  2. brudbergNovember 19, 2018 at 12:50 PM

    Alas... the what alcohol can do to some... he would probably been better off not boxing if he needed beer to get boxing (it would probably be considered doping these days)... and as Lilian says alcohol can make you lose everything, just like steroids

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  3. sarahNovember 19, 2018 at 12:57 PM

    That's a tragic story told in 44 words. It fits the picture perfectly - reminded me of the Simon and Garfunkel song.

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  4. tonispencerNovember 19, 2018 at 2:10 PM

    Many a bare knuckler knuckled under to alcohol. Part of the early starts by the Marquess of Queensberry and his attempt to make boxing more civilized. Hah!

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  5. Kim M. RussellNovember 19, 2018 at 2:14 PM

    That's an interesting poem, Glenn - I'm related to the famous British bare knuckle boxer, Tom Sayers. My dad was also a boxer.

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  6. Sanaa RizviNovember 19, 2018 at 3:19 PM

    Sigh .. many a thriving soul has fallen deep into the dark abyss due to mismanagement of anger. Powerful 44, Glenn 💕

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  7. Jade LiNovember 19, 2018 at 3:45 PM

    Skilled us of the form! I was reminded of Mike Tyson, where it is said Don King took him off of his meds before his matches so he'd be as vicious as possible. I'm wondering if Big Ben Bolt's manager did the same for him with alcohol?

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  8. UnknownNovember 19, 2018 at 4:15 PM

    You met my dad, lol?

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  9. robkistnerNovember 19, 2018 at 5:11 PM

    Cool write Glenn! Sounds like the guy you wouldn't want to grab a drink with, but would have your back in a rumble...

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  10. Frank HubenyNovember 19, 2018 at 5:33 PM

    These two "Beer
    and his foul temper" can be expensive when all costs are taken into account.

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  11. qbitNovember 19, 2018 at 6:03 PM

    I like that. “Raging Beer”!

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  12. JIm FeeneyNovember 19, 2018 at 8:32 PM

    like the economy in this, a life in 44 words! JIM

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  13. Jane DoughertyNovember 20, 2018 at 1:28 AM

    I don't suppose you could be a bare-knuckle fighter and a cringing violet. As has been said, a whole life in 44 words.

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  14. ✿November 20, 2018 at 10:50 AM

    This is so good, Glenn.

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  15. Vivian ZemsNovember 21, 2018 at 12:11 PM

    A good one, this! Oh the dangers of alcohol.

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  16. GinaNovember 21, 2018 at 9:00 PM

    drink seems to make muscles grow in the most unusual of places

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  17. Violet LentzNovember 22, 2018 at 4:55 AM

    I'm thinkin' he and I might be related!! Nice write.

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