Adrian Matejka, Poet Laureate of the state of Indiana, 2018 to 2019.
He recites "Gold Smile," 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, squarely facing each other, step forward and back, jabbing the air with right hand, left hand.
Burns jabs, and then stops in his tracks momentarily. In an instant, Johnson clinches him around the neck, and they traverse across the ring as one melded unit.
The fighters spin a complete circle, and the referee pulls them apart.
They recommence their battle, and Johnson lunges and punches at Burns, again and again. They land in a clinch, and Burns falters, falling almost to the floor before recovering. The clinch across the ring continues until the referee intervenes. They begin anew, and Burns jumps backward, and jumps again.
They clinch, hands around each other's shoulders, each pushing forward with each step. They twist and turn, jostle and spar, until the referee ends their battling dance.