too good at picking opponents

we weren't speeding or
anything

there was four
of us in the car

rainy night

and we almost bumped into
him at the intersection

a raggedy
bloody mess
he was

"The hell happened this
time?" we asked
but we knew it had to be
another street brawl

He was known around
town for those

for always starting
shit and
then losing horribly

There's no honor in
winning
he used to say.
If you win
it just shows you picked on someone
weaker than you

Wise words
of a drunk man

"So who was it this time?"
we asked

and he said, "Some fucker from
the bar."

"No shit. And why though?"

"I heard him talking. Said that
his wife ran away
from home and
left him with the kid. Some
four year old.
So I asked, where the kid at
then, an' he looks at me with the
side eye and says
the kid's at home.
An' I asked how the hell he
leaves a four year old alone
at night like that,
and then he tells me to mind my own
business.
He probably locked the kid in
the basement so he could
come out and drink and get shitfaced.
I know motherfuckers who
do that.
I used to be one of 'em.
So... I hated myself through him
and him through me. And
there was but one quarter of
a step from there to a fight.
We held it outside
an' I got my ass kicked. Meaning I
chose my opponent wisely.
I always do."

"The guy left his kid locked
in the basement
so he could come to the bar
and drink?" we asked

He seemed to think deeply
about it.
Wiped some blood from his
face in the meanwhile
"Yeah!" he finally burst. "The asshole!
Hey, I know, let's drop
by his place and give him a
lesson. Let's make the
night better for
that poor kid."

"Right," we said. "An' where would
that be?
Where's he live?"

"Oh fuck. I should've
asked him before
swinging at him, no?"

"You should've done many
things, old man.
But for now, why don't you go
home?"

He shrugged. "Ain't got any. I mean,
not anymore I don't."

We put together some
money and
sent him to the nearest
bar. Enough to
get him through the night

The next day there
was news of a homeless man
dying in the streets

We're still trying to figure out
if it was him or not

I'm afraid he was
a bit too good
at picking opponents

Many thanks to Gobblers by Masticadores for featuring my poem, "too good at picking opponents"! 

Check it out HERE!

Thank you!