Eldorado is a brief poem by Edgar Allen Poe which follows a knight on a journey to the legendary golden city. Much like those who search for the fountain of youth, the tree of life, and other such mythical places the knight is met with an impossible task. As he searches and searches his energy is sapped by his ambition. He ages rapidly, experiencing life as a lustful search for that miracle on Earth. As he begins to realize his folly, he starts to lose his momentum, despairing that he will never find city, when he happens upon a shade. When asked were Eldorado may be found the being answers "Over the Mountains Of the Moon, down the Valley of the Shadow", instructing the knight to ride on if he wishes to find the fable of South America. This poem does an excellent job of illustrating the futility of endeavors that ask one to devote a lifetime to a faint glimmer of hope that promises untold riches or immortality, and is one of my personal favorites.
Great poem choice and a nice response here. In the future, be sure to post the poem also.
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