Saturday Special: Vaulting the Bulls
The rodeo season climax takes place when the PRCA holds its finals for rodeo performers. I watched in amazement on TV when the bull fighters, (rodeo clowns) leapt over the bulls in the ancient tradition of Minoan men defying the Goddess.
Vaulting the Bulls
Dressed in fluttering garb They dash between bulls And fallen riders, dive into barrels Distracting and capering While the cowboys run for cover. After scores are tallied for the gate And spectators file from the stadium Bulls canter around the arena floor Huffing and tossing their heads Fury cools slowly after a battle. It is then the bullfighters hold their ritual. One by one, they bait them to charge The bull aims for a human chest Pawing the ground, grunting The audacious youth grabs the horns And flips nimbly over its back. Minoan spirits cheer from their graves To see these men muster their courage Their clown faces smeared with sweat To test in an ancient rite of passage Their defiance of the Goddess's reign.
Thrilling, Sue. I would really like to witness this in person. And, let me say, I appreciate that you trusted your readers to know about the Cretan mythology of the Minoan bull- leapers. I am always delighted when writers don't explain their references. Makes me feel like my education was worth while. Thank you.