Aldonza

My lady...

I am not your lady!
I am not any kind of a lady!
I was spawned in a ditch
By a mother who left me there
Naked and cold and too hungry to cry
I never blamed her
I'm sure she left hoping
That I'd have the good sense to die!

Then, of course, there's my father
I'm told that young ladies
Can point to their fathers
With maidenly pride
Mine was some regiment
Here for an hour
I can't even tell you which side!

So of course I became
As befitted my delicate birth
The most casual bride
Of the murdering scum of the earth!
And still thou art my lady.

And still he torments me!
How should I be a lady?
For a lady has modest and maidenly airs
And a virtue I somehow suspect that I lack
It's hard to remember these maidenly airs
In a stable laid flat on your back!

Won't you look at me, look at me
God, won't you look at me!
Look at the kitchen slut reeking with sweat!
Born on a dung heap to die on a dung heap
A strumpet men use and forget!

If you feel that you see me
Not quite at my virginal best
Cross my palm with a coin
And I'll willingly show you the rest!
Never deny thou art Dulcinea.

Take the clouds from your eyes
and see me as I really am!

You have shown me the sky
But what good is the sky
To a creature who'll never
Do better than crawl?

Of all the cruel bastards
Who've badgered and battered me
You are the cruelest of all!
Can't you see what your gentle
Insanities do to me?
Rob me of anger and give me despair! Blows and abuse
I can take and give back again
Tenderness I cannot bear!

So please torture me now
With your "Sweet Dulcineas" no more!
I am no one! I'm nothing!
I'm only Aldonza the whore!

Now and forever thou art my lady Dulcinea!
(Aldonza screams in despair and collapses.
As Don Quixote lies in bed dying, his mind
"retreats to some secret place.")