One & the same to me,

she said,

knowing the hold she had on me.

I tried

again, tried to explain the boxer

throws real punches, knows real pain

---but keeps his dignity in defeat

while the wrestler fakes his holds,

fakes his pain---but takes

humiliation as his beating.

I tried

to make her see the difference

between us. But her crossed arms

blocked the cross of my pride.

She choked my bleating

throat, pile-drived my heart

into my head & threw me out

of the ring. Bleeding,

I cried,

You just proved you like wrestling better.

One & the same to me,

she said.