III
White hot bright sun reflects on broad-paved court.
Three girls unsmiling stand in glistening sweat.
Prepared to face the bull in sacred sport.
In turn young beauty’s trial pays parent’s debt.
And now it falls to me to leap. I set
Myself and draw a draught of air so sweet;
The bull’s head rears, one touch and spinning high, yet
Azure sky, scarlet-dappled, falls wet on flying feet.
No pain, no sense of torment. Silence and gasps meet -
In gypsum-walled Queen’s bed you laid me down
You changed my blood-red windings, soothed the heat;
Your kisses fell like honey, smoothed my frown.
A day and night as death embraced, you wiped my fever’d brow.
I look down on the sea – sweet summer's girl, if I swam to you, would you kiss me now?