Arena dust rusted by four bulls' blood to a dull redness,
The afternoon at a bad end under the crowd's truculence,
The ritual death each time botched among dropped capes, ill-judged
stabs,
The strongest will seemed a will towards ceremony. Obese, dark-
Faced in his rich yellows, tassels, pompons, braid, the picador
Rode out against the fifth bull to brace his pike and slowly bear
Down deep into the bent bull-neck. Cumbrous routine, not artwork.
Instinct for art began with the bull's horn lofting in the mob's
Hush a lumped man-shape. The whole act formal, fluent as a dance.
Blood faultlessly broached redeemed the sullied air, the earth's grossness.
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Comments1WOW, THIS IS A REAL GUT PUNCH OF A POEM! THE VIVID IMAGERY REALLY MADE ME FEEL THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE SCENE LIKE I WAS THERE, WATCHING IT ALL. IT'S NOT A PLEASANT SCENE TO IMAGINE, BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT REMINDER OF HOW CRUEL REALITY CAN BE AT TIMES. THE BRUTALITY AND CHAOS OF THE SITUATION ARE JUXTAPOSED WITH A SORT OF DISARMING BEAUTY AND ARTISTRY. IT'S REALLY QUITE DEEPLY POWERFUL AND EMOTIVE. IT LEFT ME FEELING MOVED AND A LITTLE HAUNTED.