A Thousand Flamenco Fires Poem by Terence George Craddock (Spectral Images and Images Of Light)

dust darkened brown mustard
pale black rider ridge shadowed
there is a resolute stillness about
you in your solemn purpose trod
onward motion do you ride resolved
soul determined to certain death filled

are you already dead
slain symbolism pierced
staccato corrida García Lorca shot
bull hero philosophy hide arenas cheered
flesh ad bone shifting cape elite confused
quivering muscles mouth viscous blood-red

law spurned poet dramatist painter stirred
expert pianist guitar player classically skilled
poetic phenomenon freedom liberty sacrifice taught
light a thousand flamenco fires of darkness reason confronted
thou are but subterranean biology like all matter endowed
with but a spark of lust life easily ambushed betrayed snuffed


this is your pure youth white polished
marble fresh or bone china bowl of life fully rounded
you ride not high upon summit peaks or ridge rim but
deep in valley contemplation bottom sentenced grave fated

upon life’s word ripple rim many brown blood tears
fall for you cut out from heart centre in a corrida community
mourning every leaf fallen from Spanish passion trees

withers already a few begin to merge into mud
viewpoint ridges away distance horseback astride merged
you appear legless riding down into death cloud