El Matador y el Toro
A short essay on courage and death41 total reviews
Comment from Ulla
Yes, Jay, in so few words you have captured what is happening before the bull meets it's death to the Matador. Two strong wills meets in the arena, and the strongest one will win. Reminds me a bit of what is happening in your country right now. I liked your poem. Good luck in the contest. Ulla:)))
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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Yes, Jay, in so few words you have captured what is happening before the bull meets it's death to the Matador. Two strong wills meets in the arena, and the strongest one will win. Reminds me a bit of what is happening in your country right now. I liked your poem. Good luck in the contest. Ulla:)))
Comment Written 12-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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Ah, Ulla, thanks for your kind words. And while I'm at it, congratulations on all your success this month with the contests you won. Impressive.
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Thank you very much!!
Comment from catch22
Wow Jay, this is a poem that packs a punch of imagery and innuendo. I love that you left the rest of the story to the reader to fill in the blanks about what happens to the matador after it confronts a raging bull. Very good use of word economy as well. This is a strong entry for the contest.
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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Wow Jay, this is a poem that packs a punch of imagery and innuendo. I love that you left the rest of the story to the reader to fill in the blanks about what happens to the matador after it confronts a raging bull. Very good use of word economy as well. This is a strong entry for the contest.
Comment Written 12-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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Thank you, Pam, for your fine comments. Yes, I wanted to explore the interrelationship between fear and courage for both the matador and the bull. Does the bull feel fear; and if he does conquering it define courage? Those things. It's gotten some nice responses.
Comment from Mastery
Excellent write here, Jay. wish I had six stars left because this original poem is a challenge for the reader and deserves one for sure. It tells a story but lets the reader decide the outcome actually. Good job, my friend. Bob
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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Excellent write here, Jay. wish I had six stars left because this original poem is a challenge for the reader and deserves one for sure. It tells a story but lets the reader decide the outcome actually. Good job, my friend. Bob
Comment Written 12-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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Ahhhhh, thank you, Bob. With words like those, a six would be gilding the lilly (I almost wrote gelding the lilly).
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:) Bob
Comment from sammielwf
Jay Squires,
I took another look at your poem as you suggested. Especially the title. Then I enlarged the photo...
As my brother would gently say to me; Sammie I believe that dawn has come to "marble head".....you get it now.
And I say...
That is no bull! Well actually it is a bull...
Jay, I pull the cape away from my eyes and say....
"Olay! Okay.....I understand it now- and I like it.
Sammielwf
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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Jay Squires,
I took another look at your poem as you suggested. Especially the title. Then I enlarged the photo...
As my brother would gently say to me; Sammie I believe that dawn has come to "marble head".....you get it now.
And I say...
That is no bull! Well actually it is a bull...
Jay, I pull the cape away from my eyes and say....
"Olay! Okay.....I understand it now- and I like it.
Sammielwf
Comment Written 12-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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Sammie, you would be better served by reading my responses to the various reviews I got for this piece. I appreciate your interest and that you are so open about not understanding its meaning. Thank you.
Comment from Raffaelina Lowcock
The mystery unfolds as the bull plunges and the Matador sidesteps. Gasping moments of the momentous unknown result on the stage before the wondrous crowd. Courage? Those who watch. Courage? The dancing Matador.
Ralf
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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The mystery unfolds as the bull plunges and the Matador sidesteps. Gasping moments of the momentous unknown result on the stage before the wondrous crowd. Courage? Those who watch. Courage? The dancing Matador.
Ralf
Comment Written 12-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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I enjoyed your emotional take on this, Ralf. I was intrigued as the poem unfolded in my mind (before I squeezed it into 8 syllables), about the integral connection between fear and courage. Could the matador be courageous without feeling and equal or greater fear? Does a "dumb beast" feel fear of the matador, the cape, the sword? Or is it just an instinctive rage and the concomitant confusion when the cape and its wielder won't allow him to complete his needful action? Those thoughts had to be crammed into this small mind and the requirements of this contest. Again, thanks, Ralf.
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How good to read your thoughts behind this presentation. You could have written (or could still write) a story around those feelings.
Ralf
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Surprisingly, though, Ralf, if I were given unlimited verbiage, I'd have really muffed it.
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I don't think so!
Comment from rspoet
Hello Jay,
You've written an excellent 2-4-2 poem for the contest
with the stark reality and tension of the duel.
While the confrontation isn't really equal, the matador
does face the truth of the moment.
Excellent art work to match your words.
Well done
Best wishes.
Robert
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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Hello Jay,
You've written an excellent 2-4-2 poem for the contest
with the stark reality and tension of the duel.
While the confrontation isn't really equal, the matador
does face the truth of the moment.
Excellent art work to match your words.
Well done
Best wishes.
Robert
Comment Written 12-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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Thank you, Robert. Your personal take on my whisper of a poem is appreciated. Ah, yes--the truth of the moment. It all boils down to that, doesn't it. And the dance...
Comment from Mark D. R.
Jay,
You successfully captured the toreador's moment in the arena in just a few words. Your selected illustration is most engaging and gives flavor to your subtle nuances.
Best wishes in the contest voting.
Mark
P.S. Did you intentionally add a period after 'Truth' but not 'Soon'? Center your text lines?
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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Jay,
You successfully captured the toreador's moment in the arena in just a few words. Your selected illustration is most engaging and gives flavor to your subtle nuances.
Best wishes in the contest voting.
Mark
P.S. Did you intentionally add a period after 'Truth' but not 'Soon'? Center your text lines?
Comment Written 12-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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Thank you, Mark. Yes, I intend a period after 'Truth.' I tried it with and without. A pause, for full effect, is needed. It serves no purpose after Soon, I feel. I'll play with centering the text, but I'm trying to keep it lean, simple, and un-stylized.
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Jay,
I am for simple and unstylized too. I dislike italic script font and prefer no punctuation except for a squiggle or ellipses for most of my 5-7-5s or Haiku posts.
Again, you have total poetic control for your writing (-;
Mark
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Thank you, Mark. That reminds me... I still haven't tinkered around with centering the text. That always smacks of prettifying to me. But if I like the effect of it, I'm not adverse to switching it. Overall impact is important.
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I think of it as a PR ploy - centering text lines in my mind has an impact. Try it out and see how it feels to you.
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I did. And I liked it. I would have liked it more if the last two words had a line apiece and were centered. It even resembled a matador or a bull. But it wouldn't be a three lined poem.
Comment from Pam (respa)
-Good artwork and
presentation, Jay.
-The syllable count is
good, along with the topic.
-It is like a mini dribble
with the action described
in the beginning, and
a twist at the end, wondering
what the outcome will be.
-It could also be followed
with a sequel!
-Good luck in the contest.
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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-Good artwork and
presentation, Jay.
-The syllable count is
good, along with the topic.
-It is like a mini dribble
with the action described
in the beginning, and
a twist at the end, wondering
what the outcome will be.
-It could also be followed
with a sequel!
-Good luck in the contest.
Comment Written 12-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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Ha! I never thought of a sequel, Pam. You got this old mind thinking of a full-out serialization. Thank you for your kind reading.
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You are very welcome, Jay. I'll expect a cut when it's a best seller:)
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You are very welcome, Jay. When it's a best seller, I expect a fair cut:)
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
You have used this form well, Jay. It delivers the message masterfully. I lived in Spain for 11 years and thankfully bull fighting is dying out. Even the Spanish are against it now. The bull ring in the town near where we lived is now used as a theatre for drama, dance, music, etc. We had the Irish dancers come one year. Fabulous acoustics. Well done, my friend, this is an excellent constest entry where we are left wondering whose blood was spilled. Good luck! :)) Sandra xx
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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You have used this form well, Jay. It delivers the message masterfully. I lived in Spain for 11 years and thankfully bull fighting is dying out. Even the Spanish are against it now. The bull ring in the town near where we lived is now used as a theatre for drama, dance, music, etc. We had the Irish dancers come one year. Fabulous acoustics. Well done, my friend, this is an excellent constest entry where we are left wondering whose blood was spilled. Good luck! :)) Sandra xx
Comment Written 12-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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Thank you, and bless you, Sandra. Yes ... whose blood was spilled. That was what I wanted to get at, plus its effect of courage and the dim wondering whether the bull can be considered as possessing courage. Many ways it takes my thoughts. Thank you again, Sandra.
Comment from Wendy G
Vivid imagery, and thought-provoking. We are left to wonder at the outcome - what will the truth be? What blood will be shed? Who pays the price? Every word must count for this very restrictive form of poetry - and it does!
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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Vivid imagery, and thought-provoking. We are left to wonder at the outcome - what will the truth be? What blood will be shed? Who pays the price? Every word must count for this very restrictive form of poetry - and it does!
Comment Written 12-Nov-2020
reply by the author on 12-Nov-2020
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Oh, Wendy, thank you for your kind and deep reading of this little wisp of a poem.