Eldorado

Susan mentioned tonight that she never really understood poetry. Same with me, I echoed as I paused briefly from my reading. Then the very next sentence I read -- "A poem should not mean/but be." (Archibald MacLeish) .

I remember studying the meaning of poems in school - but only one that I can remember being forced to memorize - Eldorado by Edgar Allen Poe.

Gaily bedight,
A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of Eldorado.

But he grew old-
This knight so bold-
And o'er his heart a shadow
Fell as he found
No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado.

And, as his strength
Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow-
"Shadow," said he,
"Where can it be-
This land of Eldorado?"

"Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,"
The shade replied-
"If you seek for Eldorado!"                                                                   

 What does it mean?     Keep Searching?   Is it the Journey and not the Destination that counts?  Are you wasting your time looking for a city of gold?  Never ask a Shadow?  Only in Death will you find Eldorado?

Now 40 years later, I have the answer to my teacher's question -  "What does it mean"

"A poem should not mean/ but be"     :)

Mythical City of El Dorado on Lake Parime