Flourishing

Beyond the castle walls the kingdom flourishes,
while old Quixote simmers within, no freedom
to seek out maidens or threaten windmills
with his lance. Even Sancho, a redundant serf,
has given up, his pot belly ever swelling
with undigested food and unspoken proverbs.
Inside the castle, the air stagnates with heroes’
breath, while outside nature flourishes.

Kim M. Russell, 6th May 2020

File:Wilhelm Marstrand, Don Quixote og Sancho Panza ved en ...
Image found on Wikimedia Commons

My response to the earthweal weekly challenge: Modernity’s Hero Quest

This week Brendan writes about beautiful weather and the confusing behaviour of both pandemic and human, neither of which behaves as it should, with equally confusing information from the media – and the desire to name an antagonist.

The weekly challenge is a tricky one: If you could speak for a global persona—modernity as hero—what would his/her task be in this changed new world, the travel and trials, the treasure and its rewards? Have pandemic and climate change turned the kingdom into a wasteland, if so, what is it that can heal the aging king/queen and restore the land to vitality?

Also linked to Mary’s heroes prompt at What’s Going On? on 5th March 2025.

40 thoughts on “Flourishing”

  2. Good writing, Kim. I’ve read it a few times now, and I love the image of the old knight and his squire stuck inside – no adventuring. The greed and platitudes of Sancho are mentioned in passing, but perhaps they’re the most important thing in this poem? Without our greed the world can flourish.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. Ha, the king locked inside the castle while, outside, nature recovers. Perfect! Sort of what is happening now, though everyone is anxious to get back out there and keep on doing what got us to this place. Sigh. Wonderful, Kim!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. Ha, the king locked inside the castle while, outside, nature recovers. Perfect! Sort of what is happening now, though everyone is anxious to get back out there and keep on doing what got us to this place. Sigh. Wonderful, Kim!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. What do we do with the old myths but turn the page? Quioxte’s windmills are now turbines, his lance dripping with geopolitics. All we have to do is turn the page. Thoughtful reply to the challenge. – Brendan

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. Ah, I thought better of this duo–especially the Don–but when you contrast their comedic corrective to our culture with the real work of nature, you are right! I yelled, YES! You say so much in so few words that I totally love this poem!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. I love your vision and the insightful way you have written of these times. The metaphor of don Quixote works perfectly… and what a fabulous prompt. I am going to have to pay Brendan a visit and read more of what he has to say.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Brendan’s commentary on climate change and the corona virus pandemic is interesting and enlightened. The prompts are thought-provoking and can be quite tricky. I’ve only recently joined in and I intend to keep visiting and linking up poems. It would be great to see you there, Suzanne.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Yes, I really liked what he had to say. It’s such a pleasure to find such thought provoking prompts. Like you I will be visiting his site again. Thanks for introducing me to it.

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Hi Kim…I read your poem a few times, but am unsure who the hero is. Quixote is simmering within, and the serf has given up. Maybe I am missing something. I will revisit later… Hope all is well with you.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you for reading and commenting , Mary, and for the kind concern. I’m still poorly and waiting for more tests to find out what my illness is. What I’m trying to say in the poem is that self-professed heroes are not heroes. Real heroes keep quiet about what they do. It was a dig at the orange one.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Thanks, Kim, for the explanation! That makes sense….. Also, so sorry that you are still feeling poorly. Hope they find out what is causing it soon.

        Liked by 1 person

  14. “air stagnates with heroes’breath” Maybe we’re better off without heroes–especially if we think heroes are the ones who SAY they are heroes. Let’s see what the world could do without the them. Non heroes in the environment could then be helpmates to nature. (I’m sorry that Don Quixote got caught up in this paradox.)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Susan. Too many people profess to be heroes these days. The real heroes are those who go about things quietly, without fanfare, and purely for the benefit of others.

      Like

      Reply

  15. I like the line Susan quotes too. And now the castle has gold toilets and the man who sits on that throne is definitely not a hero. Smiles.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  18. I chuckled my way through this delightfully allusive poem, Kim. Especially loved “while old Quixote simmers within, no freedom
    to seek out maidens or threaten windmills
    with his lance” which double entendre Cervantes would have enjoyed indeed.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.