Don Quixote

To dream the impossible dream… To reach the unreachable star!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original image can be seen at Wikimedia Commons (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Honor%C3%A9_Daumier_017.jpg).  This painting by Honoré Daumier (1868) is in the public domain worldwide.

 

Don Quixote

 

Dedication

 

Let me praise yet once again

This errant knight so true

Despite the slights dealt by the world

He’d honor ne’er eschew

 

So lift in song...Yes!  Once again!

His deeds so fame accrues

Let horn be blown, banners unfurled

Fill hearts with hope anew!

 

          --Cide Hamete Benengeli¹

 

 

The Knight

 

Oh Sancho, help me up again!

Hold Rocinante’s² haggard mane

Into the saddle I must rise

Become again foul evil’s bane

 

‘Though hands are weak and I am old

And I should rest, or so I’m told

I cannot rest while monsters roam

So I must fight with valor bold

 

          Ingenious³ this Spanish Don

          This noble knight, La Mancha

          Ingenious that he should see

          More clearly, friend, than you or me!

 

Oh Sancho, how my body aches!

And note my hand, see how it shakes

Yet still I cannot rest today

When Satan pact with villain makes

 

So hand me lance and then my sword

I fight for honor, not reward

And with devotion brave and true

I will disperse the evil hordes

 

          Ingenious this Spanish Don

          This noble knight, La Mancha

          Ingenious that he should see

          More clearly, friend, than you or me!

 

Oh Sancho, world’s weight numbs my mind!

My eyes are weak, yet I’m not blind

My duty, honor, these shine bright

For these I fight, protect Mankind

 

And Oh, for Dulcinea⁴ fair

Her shinning eyes, her lustrous hair

My life I’d give to see her face

Injustice and fierce torture bear

 

          Ingenious this Spanish Don

          This noble knight, La Mancha

          Ingenious that he should see

          More clearly, friend, than you or me!

 

Oh Sancho, help me to the ground!

I feel my weight, yes every pound

All life in me is nearly gone

I'll soon rest in the burial mound

 

Soon from this body soul takes flight

Oh Sancho, I can feel the Night!

But hear that clamor--evil’s call

Now help me rise...For I must fight!

 

 

 

©2010, Richard Puetter

All rights reserved

 

 

Notes:

 

     This poem honors the marvelous novel by the early 15^th century Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes.  The full title of his work commonly referred to as “Don Quixote”, is “The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha”, or in Spanish “El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha", which has been called the most influential work of all of Spanish literature.  The story is about a delusional (or so it may seem) old Spaniard that decides to wander the countryside as an errant knight with his faithful servant Sancho Panza.  Seeing evil and monsters in everything (e.g., windmills are mistaken for giants in one episode), Quixote refuses to be rational, insisting on the importance of his holy quest to fight evil.  Cervantes’ novel has inspired countless people and in 1972 was made into a popular Broadway musical, “Man of La Mancha”.  One of the songs from that musical, “The Impossible Dream” became very popular and encapsulates Quixote perfectly:

 

The Impossible Dream

from MAN OF LA MANCHA (1972)

music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion

 

To dream the impossible dream

To fight the unbeatable foe

To bear with unbearable sorrow

To run where the brave dare not go

 

To right the unrightable wrong

To love pure and chaste from afar

To try when your arms are too weary

To reach the unreachable star

 

This is my quest

To follow that star

No matter how hopeless

No matter how far

 

To fight for the right

Without question or pause

To be willing to march into Hell

For a heavenly cause

 

And I know if I'll only be true

To this glorious quest

That my heart will lie peaceful and calm

When I'm laid to my rest

 

And the world will be better for this

That one man, scorned and covered with scars

Still strove with his last ounce of courage

To reach the unreachable star

 

^[1]Cide Hamete Benengeli is the fictional Moorish chronicler of Quixote’s deeds created by Cervantes.  So it is only appropriate that he should provide the dedication to this poem.

 

^[2]Rocinante is Quixote’s horse.  In Spanish, “Rocin” means a low quality horse, whereas “ante” means before.  So the horse’s name literally means it was a low quality horse before, i.e., before Quixote’s noble quest.  But “Rocin” can also be applied to men, suggesting that the entire party, horse, Quixote, and Sancho, were all low quality before their quest.

 

^[3]A reference to the full title of Cervantes’ work and the indication by Cervantes that there is more to Quixote and his quest than meets the eye.

 

^[4]Dulcinea (Dulcinea of El Toboso) is Quixote’s imagined love.  In actuality her real name is Aldonza Lorenzo, a common farm girl.  Just as with the name of Quixote’s horse, Cervantes played with language in naming Dulcinea.  According to Wikipedia, in the Spanish of the time, Dulcinea means overly elegant sweetness, i.e., this is an allusion to an illusionary princess.

 

 

Reviews

[Evan Clark]

A poem with end-notes! Marvelous! Of course, the notes only enrich and enhance the text. They would have to be included in any publication of this work, not only because of their informative nature, but also because they create a whole new form of poem. I don't know if that was your intention, but it was certainly interesting. As for the impossible dreams of Quixote, his dedication to the ideal, in the face of mere wordly acceptance, serves as a beacon of hope in every dreamer. Through his struggle, we know to never let slip the impossible, even though our hands become weary and ragged, and age claims its toll on our mortal flesh. Like the Man of La Mancha, we do not let go because we are compelled to dream.

[deeps]

This is so Amazing I applaud you for this write.
I really enjoyed this alot. Set up so well too,
Amazing!!

[emmajoy]

This has the master's touch yet again and is wonderful! You capture the character and style of Cervantes' wonderful character, using language and pace that is utterly appropriate.

As ever you give notes/references that remind previous readers of the tale, then in turn lure us into re-reading the original.

'I fight for honor, not reward' I've always thought of Don Quizote as being Everyman; so many have the urge to do things way above their abilities and yet dream to achieve .. and why not .. we should all have aspirations and desires and find the strength to reach for them.

Superb writing ..

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I feel like I've fought my share of windmills. lol Wonderful piece Rick. I enjoyed the read! I read Cervantes book when I was about 12 I think. I had an early love of the classics. But later in high school I read it again and found all sorts of nuances that the 12 year old had missed. It was worth (like this piece of yours here) a second read.

[Ruth]

You have bought this to life sweety, a great dedication and wonderfully vivid:)

There is so much detail in this poem, you know your stuff! lol Hugs xx

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

Hello- I have not read Don Quixote but i really want to now.
So off to the library as soon as it opens.
The dedication works well to pull the reader in and give them a feel of Don Q.

You made him a living person for me .
I enjoyed this, thank you.

Chloe

[Sheila Kline]

Dear Rick!

Oh my, you have captivated your readers AGAIN with this riveting tribute and dedication to a piece of literary work that has withstood the tests of time to become known as one of the all time greats.......even to having it honored by serving as inspiration for music/broadway play!

I read through your words and feel the perfect flow, the passion of the piece:

Beginning with the dedication, "true to form" to be made by one who is fitting to give such a moving spectrum of praise, even "The Chronicler" a fictional character speaking words of tribute of The Knight, song, banner unfurled......how marvelous are your descriptions and choice of phrases!

Then to the Knight who speaks to his servant, Sancho with pleading, revelations of his battles with evil, his weakness, his pain, his fear and trembling.........but through all of your vivid and gripping accounts, it is his unquenchable will that
tells the story of The Man of La Mancha, of his quest to dream the impossible, to overcome adversity, to surmount that which seems unsurmountable........to survive with unshakable will even as death calls his name and he calls for his sword for battle to clash with the call of evil who invades his weary bones. And to one who calls out to his love.

Though The Knight is delusional and all is just a part of his paranoria, it holds many lessons.......no matter what others might think.......when we believe it is......it may be! His ramblings reveal to us thoughts that show strength, courage, love, ability to reach out to another...his faithful servant.

Rick, you have once again taken an epic write and made it your OWN EPIC WRITE!!

This is truly a masterpiece that shall surely touch many, and give hope to those of us who are ready to hand over the sword, but most of all to inspire US to dream the impossible dream.........which you have perhaps awakened from a time of self doubt, loss of desire to carry on, the pull to give up!!

MARVELOUS!!

Best Regards!

Sheila

[James Watts]

very nice. I will be adding this to my favorite list. I really enjoyed this.