He Was Right (poem)

In 1967 I despised Muhammad Ali. I believed the Vietnam war was a just cause. He believed the war unjust.

I was drafted and went willingly. He was drafted and refused to go.

I went to war. He went to court.

I came back to America and was shunned. He came back to the ring and was celebrated.

I was bitter. He was arrogant.

But he was right. And I was wrong.

—Larry Booth