WEBVTT

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Adrian Matejka, Poet Laureate of the state of Indiana, 2018 to 2019.

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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.

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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.

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The fighters spin a complete circle, and the referee pulls them apart.

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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.

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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.