Eldorado - It's Curmudgeon's Fault: Gaily bedight, A gallant knight, In sunshine and in shadow, Had journeyed long, Singing a song, In search of Eldorado. But he grew old

kenievans Loc: Dallas

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!’

(Download)

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

As dark and moody as Poe himself. Almost too dark for me--almost. The blue tones perfectly reflect the mood of the rider as his search comes to its end. All the elements of the final verse is there. The only thing I might have done is to put the moon down low, framed by the mountains but then it would be my story not yours.

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

kenievans wrote:

Gaily bedight, br A gallant knight, br In sunsh... (show quote)

Good match of poem and image.

pmorin Loc: Huntington Beach, Palm Springs

kenievans wrote:

Gaily bedight, br A gallant knight, br In sunsh... (show quote)

The composition of the photo is an excellent fit for the poem. I think it brings the poem to life.
But because the poem is about him, I would change the lighting on the gallant knight/cowpoke to illuminate him a bit more. Not a lot, just maybe even the front of his torso and face to define them with the moonlight.

srt101fan

kenievans wrote:

Gaily bedight, br A gallant knight, br In sunsh... (show quote)

Your creativity is inspiring.....

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Curmudgeon wrote:

As dark and moody as Poe himself. Almost too dark for me--almost. The blue tones perfectly reflect the mood of the rider as his search comes to its end. All the elements of the final verse is there. The only thing I might have done is to put the moon down low, framed by the mountains but then it would be my story not yours.

I didn't think about lowering the moon. I thought of it more as a guiding light so that's why I went higher.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

photophile wrote:

Good match of poem and image.

Thank you Karin. Its actually two different mountain ranges in different states plus part of a shot from Mt. Rushmore. 😁

kenievans Loc: Dallas

pmorin wrote:

The composition of the photo is an excellent fit for the poem. I think it brings the poem to life.
But because the poem is about him, I would change the lighting on the gallant knight/cowpoke to illuminate him a bit more. Not a lot, just maybe even the front of his torso and face to define them with the moonlight.

Thank you. I agree with you on the rider but I couldn't find the shot I needed to do that. I just used a black silloutett. I have a shot of my dad on his horse I want to replace it with when I find it.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Darn, Keni, between you and Jack this site is going to be too high brow for me to participate.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

srt101fan wrote:

Your creativity is inspiring.....

Thanks. We all inspire each other here. If Crumudgeon hadn't posted the version of his poem I wouldn't have thought to do this. Now I'm thinking I need to work on a poem by Ogden Nash called Reflections On Ice Breaking.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

UTMike wrote:

Darn, Keni, between you and Jack this site is going to be too high brow for me to participate.

I honestly don't think you have any problem keeping up but the next poem I thought of only has seven words. Short and sweet.😉

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

kenievans wrote:

I honestly don't think you have any problem keeping up but the next poem I thought of only has seven words. Short and sweet.😉

It works very well for me.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

kenievans wrote:

I honestly don't think you have any problem keeping up but the next poem I thought of only has seven words. Short and sweet.😉

I am going to have to go with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow--tomorrow.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

kenievans wrote:

Gaily bedight, br A gallant knight, br In sunsh... (show quote)

Love it!
And I instantly saw, in my minds eye, James Caan in the John Wayne movie "El Dorado"

Thanks for posting this

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Rich1939 wrote:

Love it!
And I instantly saw, in my minds eye, James Caan in the John Wayne movie "El Dorado"

Thanks for posting this

Thanks Rich. Great John Wayne movie. I always picture James Caan reciting that poem. Not my favorite John Wayne though. That distinction goes to The Searchers.