A Spanish Piece

looking out over sea, admired from afar
stands -four hoofed - the Spanish star
a southern light whose feisty fight
will feign delight for a fearful crowd
shouts and taunts abound in late night
restaurants, the fork of taurus unshrouds
from cloud cover. Cower!
the starts will shine bright with blood

in Torre del Mar the tourists flock
to sea and yachts to docks
tequila sunrises far away
from this desert afternoon
where sun and sand stays
statue-still while shrubs bloom
until the scarlet sea says
goodnight, to a couple on honeymoon

past the sprawling masses
crawls moon, the promised fright
omitted, the arena soon marooned
no bulls pitted against nobody
no bull-blood committed to the ground
no blood-shod hooves on mud
no sound

but the wind, the sea, the chatter,
the folk by the water
On Via Andalusia