BULL FIGHTING!
(I)
The Minoan Civilization of ancient Greece,
Was well centered in the island of Crete;
And around 1600 BC it had peaked!
Seeing their paintings on potteries and
decorative vase,
Scholars conclude that ‘bull-jumping’ was
perfected as a gallant art!
Those jumpers grabbed the bull’s horns, –
And receiving momentum from it’s violent
head-jerk,
Vaulted over its back in a summersault,
To land on both feet to break their fall!
I was spell bound by Minoans courage and agility,
Those acrobatic feats performed with such
dexterity!
Their bulls were not killed and no blood was
shed,
Some acrobats might have been injured instead!
What a shame for our bull fighters of date!
(II)
Today bull fighting has become a popular sport,
Where the bull gets slaughtered amidst loud applaud!
I recall those Roman amphitheaters that were
jam-packed, –
When their Gladiators performed their fatal acts!
But even those gladiators had a chance to survive,
The cornered bull has no place to hide!
To see blood is an age old thrill, but no one likes
to see their Own Blood spilled!
(III)
Our Matador today is like a popular rock star,
While the bull becomes a martyr in the pit by far!
The bulls mighty horns are sharp and strong,
Can lift up a man like a rag doll!
But when the Picador lances the bull’s hump,
The bull never gets a fair deal and jumps!
The Matador then waves his ‘muleta’- a red cape,
When the bull makes a final charge, but cannot escape!
I wonder if the bull sees red?!
The Matador amidst much pomp and applaud,
Spikes the neck severing the bull’s spinal chord!
He is greeted by flowers and cheers of Ole! Ole !
Let’s learn from those ancient Minoans, –
that’s all I have to say!
-Raj Nandy, New Delhi
