Platero is a small, soft donkey with no bones who is as gentle as cotton. Only his black eyes are hard like crystal scarabs. Platero grazes in the meadow, gently caressing flowers with his nose. When called by name, he trots over happily with a sound like tinkling laughter. Platero eats whatever treats he is given, such as oranges, grapes, and honey-coated figs. Though loving and tender, he is also strong and sturdy like rock.

1. PLATERO AND I

2. Platero is a small donkey, a soft, hairy donkey: so soft to the touch that he
might be said to be made of cotton, with no bones. Only the jet mirrors of
his eyes are hard like two black crystal scarabs.

3. I turn him loose, and he goes to the meadow, and, with his nose, he gently
caresses the little flowers of rose and blue and gold.... I call him softly,
"Platero?" and he comes to me at a gay little trot that is like laughter of a
vague, idyllic, tinkling sound...

4. He eats whatever I give him. He likes mandarin oranges, amber-hued
muscatel grapes, purple figs tipped with crystalline drops of honey... -

5. He is as loving and tender as a child, but strong and sturdy as a
rock.

6. When on Sundays I ride him through the lanes in the outskirts of the
town, slow-moving countrymen, dressed in their Sunday clean, watch
him a while, speculatively: —Tien’ asero... —"He is like steel," they say.
Steel, yes. Steel and moon silver at the same time.