There were women holding
rosaries On the day Manolette died Teenage girls
in soft whitedresses
Standing silent peace respecting Groups of boys
held in theirhands
The fragments of a shattered idol The old men with
theirtraditions
challenged Refrained from tears Neck neck hook
Poles of woodThe
Picadores stood eyes ablaze To view brutal contest
In the valeof
years Courage unfailing Agility exhausted Youth
enteredchallenge
Reached for title shelved Patrons in attendance To
disarm acommon
myth Homage played to the victor of immortality
Cloaked in boldtones
In the stockyard the beasts Did climb their
barriers Bid by afrenzied
ring Bred for one purpose only To die in man's
sport Dash againsthis
spindle An instant fell to wounding On the day
Swords penetratingOn
the day Torches igniting On the day Flower wreaths
encircling Theday
On the day.