Amy's Place .. Poetry and Potpourri ..August 11-12, 2004

8-11-04 | JustAmy, St.Louie1, MamaBear and Billie

[OESY]

Don "Kerry" Quixote and Sancho "Eddie" Panza -- posted elsewhere by Liz--

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 be 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.

* * *

"Don Quixote de la Mancha" is a novel by the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes. It is one of the earliest novels in a modern European language and many people consider it the best book in Spanish. The adjective "quixotic", meaning "idealistic and impractical", derives from his name, and the expression "tilting at windmills" comes from his story.

The plot covers the journeys and adventures of Don Quixote and his squire, Sancho Panza. Don Quixote is an ordinary Spaniard (an Hidalgo, the lowest rank of the Spanish nobility) who is obsessed with stories of errant knights (''libros de caballer as''). His friends and family think him crazy when he decides to become a knight errant himself, and to wander Spain on his thin horse Rocinante, righting wrongs and protecting the oppressed.

Don Quixote is visibly crazy to most people. He believes ordinary inns to be enchanted castles, and their peasant girls to be beautiful princesses. He mistakes windmills for oppressive giants sent by evil enchanters. He imagines a neighboring peasant to be Dulcinea del Toboso, the beautiful maiden to whom he has pledged love and fidelity.

Sancho Panza, his simple squire, believes his master to be a bit crazy, in particular he knows that there is "really" no Dulcinea, but he plays along, hoping to get rich. He and Quixote agree for instance that because Dulcinea is not as pretty nor does she smell as good as she should, she "must have been enchanted", and from that point on the mission is to disenchant her.

Both master and squire undergo complex change and development throughout the story, and each character takes on attributes of the other as the novel goes on. At the end of the second book, Quixote decides that his actions have been madness and returns home to die. Sancho begs him not to give up, suggesting that they take on the roles of pastors, who were commonly heroes of pastoral poems and stories.

Master and squire have numerous adventures, often causing more harm than good in spite of their noble intentions.

A windmill in La Mancha, Spain, like the ones Don Quixote believed were giants waving their arms. On horseback with his lance lowered, he charged them repeatedly.

[Terabitten]

15, huh? Can't serve its purpose as a mobile target system - too slow.

*ducks*

[NicknamedBob]

Evidently, Marissa (right), doesn't like Mike's toy, or what he just did with it.

[Pippin]

Hi, CG!

Another great poem!

[Pippin]

Hi, Bob!

[NicknamedBob]

Hi, Pippin!

I may be available for a while today, until teen1 or teen2 wrests control of the keyboard from my grasping fingers.

I have got to get my home network working again!

[JustAmy]

LOL

Funny thing is, that picture was taken Christmas. Lots of toys.

What Mike was playing with and Marissa wanted was a ring used to hang drapes.

Next Christmas, I'm buying all gifts in the hardware store and forgetting high-priced toys. :)

[JustAmy]

Graphic from Louie

Thank you for today's beautiful Welcome Graphic, Lori.
I'll make sure everyone has tea but I will have a margarita ready for you. :)

[NicknamedBob]

"...Next Christmas, I'm buying all gifts in the hardware store and forgetting high-priced toys."

This can work for a long time. I have long contended that, before going to high school, each boy should be issued a "pick-up tool" and each girl should be equipped with a "stud finder."

[JustAmy]

click

You're The Cream In My Coffee
Lyrics and Music by B.G. De Sylva, Lew Brown and Ray Henderson
1923.

You’re the cream in my coffee,
You’re the salt in my stew
You will always be my necessity,
I'd be lost without you.

You’re the starch in my collar,
You’re the lace in my shoe
You will always be my necessity,
I'd be lost without you.

Most men tell love tales,
And each phrase dovetails
You’ve heard each known way,
This way is my own way:

You’re the sail in my loveboat,
You’re the captain and crew,
You will always be my necessity
I'd be lost without you.

You’re the cream in my coffee,
You’re the salt in my stew
You will always be my necessity,
I’d be lost without you.

You’re the starch in my collar,
You’re the lace in my shoe
You will always be my necessity,
I’d be lost without you.

You give life savor,
Bring out its flavor,
So this is clear, dear,
You’re my worcestershire, dear!

You’re the sail in my loveboat,
You’re the captain and crew,
You will always be my necessity,
I’d be lost without you.

You will always be my necessity
I’d be lost without you.

[cyborg]

You're The Cream In My Coffee

*** That's what my mom used to say to my dad :o)

[JustAmy]

LOL

[JustAmy]

Hi Cyborg ... Happy Wednesday.

I'm glad that the music brought back nice memories.

[Pippin]

Almost to the middle of Rush's book. FASCINATING!

[JustAmy]

Gif(t) from St.Louie

Good morning, Billie.
I'm glad that you have joined us for tea.
Would you prefer iced tea this afternoon?

Have a wonderful Wednesday.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Thanks. I'm full of it them.

[JustAmy]

Good afternoon, A-G

Happy Wednesday. I hope it is not as hot there as it is here today.

[tuliptree76]

*sigh*

[Alamo-Girl]

It was 62 when I walked the dog at noon. I have a sweatshirt on now. LOLOL!

[Billie]

Oh, how sweet and cheery! Isn't it fun to open your mailbox and see all those gif(t)s - like a kid at Christmas. :)

Here's one FOR Santa: