Muhammad Ali was graceful and strong
and he had no quarrel with the Vietcong.
He always had a poem or a quip at hand,
particularly about where his opponents might land.
They called him the “Louisville Lip,”
as he danced his way to the world championship.
That he had courage, there was no doubt,
facing giants in the ring and taking them out.
When called upon to fight in the Army’s ranks,
he said in so many words, “No thanks.”
He had nothing against the Vietnamese foe,
so he dug in his heels and refused to go.
He said his religion barred him from killing,
while the government said he should be willing.
They took away his well-earned crown,
threatened him with jail and called him a clown.
Through it all, he stayed true to himself,
not allowing his deepest beliefs to be put on a shelf.
Finally the man who I call a hero
won at the Supreme Court eight to zero.
Muhammad Ali was graceful and strong
and he had no quarrel with the Vietcong.
