Dulcinea ~ within this heart heard...

What moves this hand

Wherein lies its command

Strokes upon canvas white

Hold I to the perceived light

Color to embrace and enfold

A story within this silence told

Each stroke upon canvas to convey

What words alone are too pale to say

A palette of passion, colors of grace

Brush stroke by brush stroke, this knowing to embrace

Tones and shadings in reverence sublime

Imbued are we with gifts divine

A resounding call in heart be heard

Within be known the soulful WORD.

Rose Marie Raccioppi

Poet Laureate

Orangetown, New York

Dulcinea, Watercolor, Abstract, Rose Marie Raccioppi, http://www.apogeeart.com/

Dulcinea from The Man of La Mancha

This song is sung by the Priest of the "middle level" of the play, where Cervantes is Alhonso Quiana who has come to believe that he is the knight Don Quixote and has devoted his life to justice in the lovely lady Dulcinea (who may only exist in his mind). The Priest is sympathetic to Quiana's state and sees both the comforts and the dangers of dedication to a dream. 

To each his Dulcinea ...

That he alone can name,
To each a secret hiding place:
Where he can find the haunting face --
To light his secret flame ...

For with his Dulcinea beside him so to stand,
A man can do quite anything:
Outfly the bird upon the wing --
Hold moonlight in his hand ...

Yet if you build your life on dreams,
It's prudent to recall:
A man with moonlight in his hands --
Has nothing there at all ...

There is no Dulcinea ...

She's made of flame and air,
And yet how lovely life would seem:
If every man could weave a dream --
To keep him from despair.

To each his Dulcinea ...
Though she's only flame and air ...

Lyrics by Joe Darion