The Grandeur of Yesteryears

I.

The Matador of old did sway, in his chair of golden years.

Lauds of praise, Odysseus Shroud, forevermore crowned his head.

He'd slain the dragons of the day, for the crowd with blood-thirst spears.

With toasts and dance of finest friends, he consumed his daily bread.

The grandeur of his yesteryears, ne'er to be forgotten.

Ne'er to be forgotten.

___

The grandeur of his yesteryears, Plaza de Toros portrayed.

The Matador, a man of men, entered in the monster's den.

With crowds and chants, and colors bright, Vanguard of the grand parade.

From fear or nerves, he could not fall for the honor of his kin.

The triumphs of his yesteryears, ne'er to be forgotten.

Ne'er to be forgotten.

___

The triumphs of his yesteryears, with coup de grace he conquered,

Until the day the raging bull, a prince Toro, named Rutul.

Charged and raced with piercing horns and grazed the master's honor.

The sting and pain that wrought such shame, the Toro Bravo, "fighting bull."

Dishonor of his yesteryears, ne'er to be forgotten.

Ne'er to be forgotten.

___

"Dishonor of his yesteryears?" seethed the Matador de Toros .

Banderilla's, with poisoned dart, he slipped into his shoulder part.

The raging bull slowed to a trot, no longer Toro Heros.

The Matador, enraged in pain, plunged the sword into his heart.

El engañador of yesteryears, ne'er to be forgotten.

Ne'er to be forgotten.

****

II.

The Matador of old did sway, with his body aged and grim.

Ambers touched the earth escarpments; shadows grew long on the wall.

Through the darkness, he heard snorting, a hoof tamped with patience thin.

The breadth of shoulders of a Toros rose before him in the pall.

Transgressions of his yesteryears, ne'er to be forgotten.

Ne'er to be forgotten.

___

Transgressions of his yesteryears, Raging bull above him loomed.

His red eyes glowed with horns afire, hell's smoke like sulfur billowed.

The sharp horn tip pierced his shoulder, the Matador jerked in doom.

With eyesight dimmed, the day had come, for his sins, he would succumb.

Penance for his yesteryears, ne'er to be forgotten.

Ne'er to be forgotten.

___

Penance for his yesteryears, the spectral bull spoke aloud.

"You stole my day, my honor's blighted, the punishments due today.

To steal my place upon the stars, you purloined to rouse the crowd.

So, stand you thief, imposter man, where's your sword? It's time to pay.”

To fight for rights of yesteryear, ne’er to be forgotten.

Ne'er to be forgotten.

___

To fight for rights of yesteryear, for the honor both held dear.

Plaza de Toros then appeared, the Bulls of Ages watched nearby.

Rutul bullied to all their cheers; the Matador for life did fear.

The Raging Bull did charge him straight and gored el viejo in the eye.

Blind justice of the yesteryear, ne’er to be forgotten.

Ne'er to be forgotten.

___

Blind justice of the yesteryear, soon the final blow would start.

The gallery stood silent, still, as the Faena had begun.

The red-eyed Rutul circled round, then drove hot horns into his heart.

The bulls all stamped their hooves in cheer; Rutul, the Raging Bull, had won.

The honor of the yesteryear, ne’er to be forgotten.

Ne'er to be forgotten.

___

The Matador of old was found, on his face and on the ground.

No one claimed the body or rights; no one came to say goodbye.

The mysteries of his last day's curse, his honor ever unwound.

A matador gored, by chair impaled, cried guilty, guilty, horrified.

The grandeur of his yesteryears, for ere’ to be forgotten.

For ere' to be forgotten.

___

The grandeur of our yesteryears requires honor to ourselves.

Choose the life path that you will take, make right the wrongs, your mistakes.

The stars above do watch and wait and weigh the balance of the scales.

The grandeur of your yesteryears, ne'er to be forgotten.

Ne'er to be forgotten.

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Glossary

Matador - The principal bullfighter who fights a bull to the death.

Odysseus - Legendary Greek King of Ithaca of Homer's epic poems, The Odyssey and Iliad.

Plaza de Toros - A bullring encircled by an arena.

Vanguard - The lead person or lead unit.

Rutul: Hindu name from India, meaning "season," where all Bovines are held sacred.

Toro bravo - Fighting bull.

Matador de Toros – Bullfighter

Banderilla's - An ornamented dart with barbs for sticking into the neck or shoulder of the bull.

Toro Heros – Brave and courageous bull.

El engañador – deceiver, impostor, charlatan.

El viejo - Old man

Faena - the final series of flourishing passes the Matador makes, using a Muleta (red cape) and a sword, preparatory to the kill.