Adrian Matejka, Poet Laureate of the state of Indiana, 2018 to 2019. Reciting "Mouth Fighting," a poem from his volume "The Big Smoke," 2013. On the projection screen behind Mr. Matejka is a video clip of a Jack Johnson versus Tommy Burns boxing match. The fighters are clinch fighting while the referee stands watching every move.
Johnson throws a punch. Burns backs off, and they clinch again, pushing and pulling, see-sawing, side to side.
In the clinch, Johnson lobs jabs and punches at Burns as they grapple, jerk, and sway.
Burns delivers undercuts as he pushes Johnson toward the ropes.
They grapple, clinched in a standoff, pushing back and forth. They turn in a circle as one unit, one organism, grappling and clinching.
Johnson throws a hard punch, and lunges toward Burns as he pulls away. Johnson is victorious. Some spectators climb over the ropes and land on the mat. Johnson walks calmly across the ring.