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.