Death of Manolete

there were women holding rosaries
 on the day manolete died
 teenage girls in soft white dresses
 standing silent peace respecting
 groups of boys held in their hands
 the fragments of a shattered idol
 the old men with their traditions challengedained from tears
 neck neck hook
 poles of wood
 the picadores stood eyes ablaze
 to view brutal contest
 in the vale of years
 courage unfailing
 agility exhausted
 youth entered challenge
 reached for title shelved
 patrons in attendance
 to disarm a common myth
 homage played to the victor of immortality
 cloaked in bold tones
 in the stockyard the beasts
 did climb their barriers
 bid by a frenzied ring
 bred for one purpose only
 to die in man's sport
 dash against his spindle
 an instant fell to wounding
 on the day
 swords penetrating
 on the day
 torches igniting
 on the day
 flower wreaths encircling
 the day
 on the day