José Santos Chocano

From “Peruvian Poems”

Translated by John Pierrepont Rice

A COAT of silk, cheap jewels he loves to flaunt,

Some tawdry lace that serves him for a frill:

He grasps a pistol butt, and seems to taunt

The world and grip it in his ugly will.

Striding his bronco with its braided tail,

Crowned by a hat that tapers to a cone—

One feels no bribe nor violence could prevail

To make him change his saddle for a throne.

Proud of his seat, he cracks his rawhide lash.

The brute obeys, a spark flies from his hoof.

He plunges; and with pistol at his sash

His master strides him, haughty and aloof.

These seem no man and horse in mortal strife,

But some Olympic figure come to life.