"Bullfight-Canvas"- from The Ruby of the Universe - Dan Lukiv his poem is from The Ruby of the Universe. The title is taken from a line in the final poem, and all of them explore themes related to war. click here to read the others. Bullfight-Canvas The wild bull, Facing "Goya" in his "Taje de luces" ("Suit of lights"), Does not know that pharaohs Hunted him on foot, Nor that princes and princesses                                       of Crete Somersaulted over him As he charged. Four years pampered, He's never before seen The "grey" muleta that Lies. But he has made up his mind. He paws the ground, Breathes heavily, as the Amphitheater-Picasso Prepares to Attack himself. The picador, Like a blood-lusting Moor on horseback, Drives the steel-tipped lance Into neck flesh. The head lowers. Twice again the picador Drives down the bull's head, And then he exits; Banderillas enter: They shout, wave arms, Swerve at the last moment To lodge steel barbs Into bleeding shoulders. The "moment of truth": Matador against bull. Aficionados cry out for Thrust and charge, Blood and blade. The matador-- Puppeteer and artist-- Reaches over the horns, Plunges the sword between Iberian shoulders, Searching, searching for the aorta, Until the coup de grace Gives the bloody audience Everything the bloody matador Could ask for. Dan Lukiv is a writer, educator, and frequent contributor to canadian content. comments about this article? give us feedback