GREAT LITERARY FISTFIGHTS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY:
WALLACE STEVENS VS. ERNEST HEMINGWAY, KEY WEST, FLORIDA,
1936
Kevin Densley
Hemingway's sister came back from a party,
told Ernest that Wallace Stevens
had called him something bad.
He-man Ernie bristled, declared
he'd find that Stevens and sort him out.
He got to the party. A scuffle ensued
between Ern and tipsy Wally.
Big Ernie knocked even bigger Wal
a couple of times to the ground.
With the only punch he landed, Wal
broke his hand on Hemmy's jaw.
Now in spite of his reputation, Ern
wasn't much of a fighter.
He liked the low blow, the sneak punch,
picked on those (like Wal)
unschooled in the fistic arts.
Anytime he encountered
a man who could really box,
Ernie dropped like a sack of coal.
In his bout with Wallace Stevens, it's clear
the poet, ethically, won on points.
Kevin Densley, July 20, 2018Link
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