Those of us who experience the depth of the
emotional connection with a non-human animal will understand the significance
of Platero and I.
Juan
Ramon Jimenez’s poetical prose is about the shared experiences between the
author and Platero. Platero is a donkey; Juan Ramon Jimenez reveals the soul of
his humble donkey friend with tenderness, giving way to a poignant emotional
connection with the reader.
Juan Ramon Jimenez’s Platero and I
is a memorable tribute to Platero, his inseparable companion, as they share
moments of contemplation, joy, sadness and reflections. Their encounters with
animals, people and the beauty of their natural surroundings in the small town
of Moguer in Andalucia, Spain, fill the reader with wonder.
“He is
so much like me, so different from the others that I have come now to believe
we dream the same… his dreams mine… and my dreams his.”
The mutual understanding between Platero and
Juan Ramon creates a sense of comfort.
“We understand each other. I let him go
wherever he wishes and always he takes me where it is I wish to go.”
The narrative warms the heart and transports
the readers to a sanctuary of serenity where everything turns into a metaphor
or an expression of beauty. The author invites the reader to see everything
through the eyes of a poet.
The presence of Platero in Juan Ramon Jimenez’s
life clearly connects him to his surroundings and people in meaningful ways.
The author also appears to relish their shared solitude, which appears to provide Juan Ramon with opportunities to paint and read. Every instant seems to be pregnant with
intrigue and fascination.
This is the kind of book that touches you so
deeply, it can move you to tears. It swathes you in a blanket of gratitude for
the simple moments of life, the immaterial treasures that make life meaningful.
The
souls of Platero and Juan Ramon coalesce in the magical sweetness of nature.
The fresh breath of the morning, the brightness of the moon, the colors of the
sunset adopt a new dimension of reality. They become unique moments of elation
and healing.
Juan Ramon Jimenez’s bond with Platero is so
precious and intimate that he does not even perceive Platero as a donkey but as a person.
“He is tender and loving like a young boy, a
small girl, a child… but inside he is strong, he is dry like a rock, like the
land he walks.”
Platero’s gentle spirit permeates the poet’s
way of looking at everything; their connection feels eternal, like the seasons
and cycles in nature. It transcends the limited scope of their individual
lives. Their kindness expresses itself in their interactions with animals,
people and landscapes. Even though brief unpleasant situations take us by
surprise in the story, the empathetic voice of the poet never fails to bring us
back to the gentle, patient attitude of Platero and Juan Ramon to restore a
sense of hope, immersing ourselves once again in a moment of balance and
peacefulness despite the abrupt despair, grief or the appalling cruelty of
others…
Juan Ramon Jimenez was a poet, editor and
critic who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1956. He was born in 1888 in
Moguer, Andalucia, where he wrote this book. He started writing when he was a
child. His most famous masterpiece, Platero and I was published in 1914;
a longer version of it was later published in 1917.
You can learn more about his life by
visiting the website of the Poetry Foundation:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/juan-ramon-jimaenez
To visit some of the places in his poetical
prose, enjoy this video where you will learn about his connection with the
United States of America:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZR0MNJ4Uuc
Here's a video about his biography and poetic work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHgXcxmH6mM
I recommend the full version of the book. The
photo of the book cover in this post showcases an old complete edition in Spanish that I possess.
It contains the most delightful drawings. I am lucky to have it…
To
satisfy my curiosity I borrowed an English translation of the book from the
library. Unfortunately, many parts have been cut off from the translation. Make
sure you find the complete version of this delicate memorable book, whether you
read it in English or Spanish. Platero and I has been translated into
more than fifty languages.
Second Nature: the inner lives of animals
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