Friday, May 3, 2024: Rose Mary Boehm's "600 Kilos of Muscle and Bone"

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                                                                                           Corrida Bull Fight by Suerta De Gallear 1909




Rose Mary Boehm is a German-born British national living and writing in Lima, Peru, and author of two novels as well as eight poetry collections. Her poetry has been published widely in mostly US poetry reviews (online and print). She was three times nominated for a ‘Pushcart’ and once for ‘Best of Net’. Do Oceans Have Underwater Borders? (Kelsay Books July 2022), Whisting in the Dark (Cyberwit July 2022), and Saudade (December 2022) are available on Amazon. Also available on Amazon is a new collection, Life Stuff, published by Kelsay Books November 2023. https://www.rose-mary-boehm-poet.com/




600 Kilos of Muscle and Bone


Six hundred kilos

of muscle and bone

shake the ground.

The huge head moves

left, right, up, down.

Spittle runs from the muzzle

and a sound like the hissing

of a steam train

shoots towards the lone human figure.

The torero flings back his head,

putting the peacock to shame

with his dance stance.

--Hehey…hey, toro!

His eyes hold death

and his heart holds pride.


The bull moves its mass

only to be cheated

in the game played

by the small killer and his helpers.

The picador cuts the tendon

that carries the weight

of the powerful head.

The banderilleros distress

with their colourful stings.

The torero plays tricks

with the red cloth

while the crowd

applaud.


When the butchering’s done

the mighty bull at last gives in

to the monstrous wounding

and accepts an inevitable death

dictated by the rules of a game

written in blood

centuries ago.

 

It’s a warm and pleasant afternoon

in Madrid’s bullring.


© 2024 Rose Mary Boehm


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