Lyrics The Bull - William Carlos Williams

The Bull

It is in captivity —
ringed, haltered, chained
to a drag
the bull is godlike
Unlike the cows
he lives alone, nozzles
the sweet grass gingerly
to pass the time away
He kneels, lies down
and stretching out
a foreleg licks himself
about the hoof
then stays
with half-closed eyes,
Olympian commentary on
the bright passage of days.
— The round sun
smooths his lacquer
through
the glossy pinetrees
his substance hard
as ivory or glass —
through which the wind
yet plays —
Milkless
he nods
the hair between his horns
and eyes matted
with hyacinthine curls