The Golden Shovel of Eldorado

They ride broken trails over and over
As they search for something special- the
Hidden gems beneath strange mountains
That resonates with ancient songs of
People long since forgotten- the
Echoes of their last full moon
Still ring out from the peak, down
Into willing hearts and minds- the
Memories of that golden valley
Shining with the delights of
Pure, unbridled excess- the
Gold keeping away the shadow
As their warriors would ride
Forth on winds that grew boldly
With every syllable- They ride
And face an unknown future- Yet the
Gold couldn’t protect against the shade
Who fell upon them and replied
That they would be safe, but only if
They gave up their golden lives- you
Have heard this tale before, because you seek
The truth of those who gave their lives for
Their beloved Eldorado


The prompt for this poem was to “create a Golden Shovel about a famous poem.”

I chose this stanza from “Eldorado” by Edgar Allen Poe:

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


This is my interpretation. What’s yours?


(the photo is a screenshot from The Road to El Dorado that I found during a Bing search)

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