Thank you, Jone Rush MacCulloch, for hosting Poetry Friday today, and inviting us to write along with you in a classic found poem.
I’m currently reading Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes. My found poem came from chapter VIII a quintessential chapter on the “terrible and undreamt-of adventure of the windmills.” I used prime numbers to determine how many syllables were in each line– 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 11, 7, 5, 3, 2.
combat
enmity
fly not, you cowards
Engaging monstrous giants
glory of vanquishing these thirtyforty
wicked arts — fierce fluctuations — giants into mills
righteous warfare, adventurous abundance
perceived heard God’s good service
Sails turned by the wind
fortune hush
worship
In other poetry news. I’m having fun with a few different projects this month outlined here. I have a few things I’m trying to do daily:
- Dig through words and find poems with Laura Salas and a few others.
- Write with #Verselove teacher-poets.
- Follow the adventures of the Progressive Poem.
- Catch up on my Milo’s First Year couplet book.
- Write a comment on Free Minds to a poet who is incarcerated
Don Quixote is arriving soon here. My dog ate my original copy when she was a pupper a year ago, and I’ve only just got around to ordering another last week.
You sound busy with all these lovely poetry projects!
Denise, thank you for showing me Free Minds! I will definitely be joining you in commenting on poems there. What an incredible, important project! Happy Poetry Friday!
I’m impressed that you’re reading Don Q. Intimidated by its length, I’ve never tried. My favorite line in the poem is “fortune hush,” and I’ll have to think about what it means.
Hi Denise, your poem highlights the amazing words he chose to write in the story. You must love them too since you chose them for this poem : vanquishing, fluctuations, righteous – wow! I too am grateful for the links you shared, will check them out!
I love how this poem begins with combat but ends in worship. What a experience from the first to the last word. I really need to play with black-out poetry. I love the original text!
Your Don Quixote poem is terrific Denise, I love why and where you broke your lines, it gives the poem a charging forward, which is what he was doing. I had started reading it a long time ago, perhaps I’ll have to revisit it again. I did love seeing it preformed too!
And gosh what wonderful poetry ponderings your taking this month, thanks for all and all the links!
Kudos on this excellent found poem! I have not tried this challenge yet, but your poem is a strong example of why I should. I have watched the movie with Peter O’Toole and one of these days I may attempt the book. Thank you for sharing!
Denise, I love how you brought the windmills to life in your own way through Cervantes’ words (and am so impressed that you added the syllable challenge)!
Denise, I am impressed with your found poem and the reading of Don Quixote! I only remember playing Man of LaMancha in the band when in high school. You are certainly busy this Earth and Poetry Month with soul-enriching activities. Thanks for sharing what you are doing and spreading goodness!
Thanks for telling me about Free Minds. I hope your Don Quixote poem was put on the Padlet.