Drunk on Grenache wine
on the balconies of Barcelona
watching between siesta eyes
and alcohol haze the locals
filling the dust filled streets
dancing to flamenco music
twirling and swirling waiting
for the trumpets to announce
the running of the bulls
replacing Spanish dancers
with screaming squeals of
battle between man and beast
isn’t it pretty to think so
a handicapped opponent
disadvantaged is a poor sport
when the beast is half dead
raging through the pain
seeking to rend flesh from bone
those that would taunt them
adding indignity to the event
the only just spectacle is
when vengeance is wrought on
their jeering tormentors and
us tourists lifting a glass to
have another drink watching
passively in indifference
isn’t it pretty to think so
I’m a fan of Hemingway, so Ms. Jade’s prompt at dVerse to use inspiration from “one true sentence” from one of Hemingway’s story was right up my alley. I chose the line from “The Sun Also Rises“–“Isn’t it pretty to think so”–as the inspiration for this poem (which I broke the rules and utilized the quote in my poem because I’m apparently terrible at following rules).
Copyright © 2021 TJS Sherman All rights reserved.
Musing & Creating with T.J.S. Sherman 
That is quite haunting and it reminds me of the world today, especially with this:
“the only just spectacle is
when vengeance is wrought on
their jeering tormentors and
us tourist lifting a glass to
have another drink watching
passively in indifference
isn’t it pretty to think so”
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We tend to sit back and watch when we’re not the bull.
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That is sadly true. Too often that happens.
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I learned so much about the man in watching the documentary. He was obsessed with bull-fighting, so obsessed that I have to wonder what secret he was hoping would be revealed one of those times. Instead just a sad, scripted cruelty where you pray for the matador to get gored. Even if so, the bull’s life as he knows it is over. To turn cruelty into spectacle, a spectacle that I think continues until this day in Spain, would seem to keep perpetual bad karma stoked for the spectator…
I love the poem, but the guidelines for the prompt are to use the quote for inspiration but not use the quote within your poem….
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As a man who fought in wars, you’d think he’d tire of violence, but perhaps he needed it. I’m hoping to get around to watch the documentary.
I read the prompt in a meeting, and apparently did not have my full reading comprehension glasses on. No prize for me this week.
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I hope you do get a chance to see it.
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Ugh. Bullfighting is even worse than I thought it was, after a little on line research. I can’t imagine how anyone can enjoy it.
–Fireblossom
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Yea, at least they could let it be a fair fight.
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Your poem had me right there as a spectator That whole thing was nuts.
.Pat
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It’s apparently a fascinating if not tragic spectacle.
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For sure!
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The irony of it all. We think its all entertainment and spectable but the animals and wounded people. Good quote to choose as your inspiration.
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Thank you. Though most wouldn’t admit it we relish in suffering.
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Bullfighting is banned in Barcelona: the Catalans are quite against it, and prefer to make human towers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castell. It still takes place in the South, but I think only on rare occasions. I lived in Andalucia for 15 months and I never heard of a bullfight taking place.
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It doesn’t surprise me it’s on the way out. I’m hoping to make it over to Spain sometime in the near future. I’ve heard it’s a beautiful country.
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Very much so!
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This is beautifully haunting! The poem in its entirety is a wonderful nod to Hemingway and his book 💝💝 I especially love; “watching between siesta eyes and alcohol haze the locals filling the dust filled streets dancing to flamenco music.” 🙂
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I want to be one of the Americans from the book. It’s on the some day list.
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I’ve sipped wine on a Barcelona balcony … skipped the bullfights. Even though you “cannot” follow directions, I love this! LOL
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I chalk it up to being creative, I make my own rules 😉
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Oh, to gaze at violence from a safe distance… quite chilling I think, but Hemingway liked that stuff apparently… sometimes I think being a spectator to blood is just a strange manly thing that I haven’t understood.
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Maybe some perspectives aren’t meant to be taken given how he ended up.
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A cheer for the poet here.
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I love your sardonic interpretation of this quote and how you ended with it. Your choice punchy lines were a pleasure to read. They still do this in Spain and I always think those who get gored flirted with death and asked for it!
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I mean every time you tempt death, you shouldn’t be surprised when it comes. There’s a willful risk, so I don’t know how much sympathy is earned of something happens.
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