1/1000 of a sec:
t h e b u ll b ur sts in to th e ri n g
s w ay ing coj on es fr o ze n
to h is hi n d le g.
1/500 of a sec:
Mass ive shoul ders rais e the mon u men tal
hea d, a bu st as pro ud as any Po pe’s,
m ount ed in the corr i dors of t he Vat i can.
1/250 of a sec:
The pic a dor’s lanc e arrest ed in mid thr ust,
his f ace con tor ted in con cen tra tion.
1/125 of a sec:
On his toes a banderillo places the banderillas,
his hands dancing above the flailing sticks.
1/60 of a sec:
Working thecape, agraceful veronica,
its sweepingblur encasing the colorblind bull.
1/30 of a sec:
Thematador’s goldembroidered suitoflights,
trajedeluces, a smearof goldenlight
appliquéd tothe blackbull.
1/15 of a sec:
Onhisknees,
thebull’snostrilsblowingblood
thematadorwithmuletaandsword,
ablearydeathawashinred.