The Stragglers Anthem Poem by David Beckham

the strange straggler strolling steadily through the alley
resigned to walking on patches of hot rocks baked by the scorching sun
caused to do more leaps than a frog, more balancing act than a gymnast
he has blisters on his feet
he is soaked wet
he is exhausted
the warrior
known by many as the matador
my metaphor
for the warrior and the survivor that lives inside of him
loved by many for his humor
not a rumor
he sweats,
he struggles
king of the sun dance
despised by some for his defiance
see his eyes, the bull, never a blink
he snooze, he loose
awake to his surrounding, to answer the call
the alley is long, the walk paths are narrow and
his patience is big
his future, his hope, a light it holds
he in encouraged
he is cheered on
he is a poet
the eye of the people
the voice of the world
behind him, a cry of a thousand folds
siblings, uncles, relatives, stragglers and strangers
his generations as many as the stars
all gnashing and wailing in this narrow alley of scorching hot rocks
tugging and holding onto each other for redemption
for salvation
a reprieve from the past and present
the cash cow, the poet, the storyteller, the alley redeemer
not a messiah
content to walk the walk and talk the talk
he will forge ahead in the heat
he will educate his mind
what he sees he remembers
bleeding through the eyes and ears
in this alley filled with patches of hot rocks baked by the scorching sun
he is victorious
light at the end of the alley
a river, some grass, some stock
milk and honey
he has arrived, faith
the strange straggler strolling steadily through the alley
is you
is me
is the struggle of our fathers
of our fathers, fathers
it’s the message to tomorrow
that yesterday’s battle, today’s battle
the struggles and gnashing, the leaps and falls
is the recipe
for tomorrows victory dance
believe!