Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DON QUIXOTE, by HANNELORE JOSEPH


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DON QUIXOTE, by                    
First Line: So you died sane, oh jester of the universe
Last Line: Of all humanity -- we're all in vain.
Subject(s): Death; Don Quixote; Insanity; Knights & Knighthood; Dead, The; Madness; Mental Illness


So you died sane, oh jester of the universe --
And freed from your illusions just before you perished,
Ah knight of mockery, they can not bury
With your dry bones those things which you have cherished.

You lived in vain -- ah splendid, futile life --
A life that was a lovely and entirely useless dream --
Would we could live a life fighting for causes --
That don't exist -- living in things that seem.

And Sancho too was drawn into your lofty madness --
And followed you, half doubting, half believing --
And you coaxed and abused, loved and despised him --
And he was loyal, even when deceiving.

Oh, they were wise, who stood around your deathbed --
They knew the world was bad, the weak without a right --
And valiance, sacrifices, greatness could not change it,
And you at last gave in, deluded knight.

So you fought windmills -- hero of phantasies --
They fought each other -- love themselves -- yet where
Can it be proved that what they do is better
Than fighting sheep and windmills -- loving air?

They gloated when at last you too surrendered --
Rejoiced when in their limits you were drawn --
Did you not realize that the mob loves nothing
Like fallen splendor of its glory shorn?

You're vanquished -- there you lie -- a monument
To all those active dreamers called insane --
Thinking it over, I find you are a statue
Of all humanity -- we're all in vain.





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