Sonnet by Pablo Neruda

Aurora411 · 02-11-2003, 01:49 AM

This is one of my faves. Trev and I had a friend read it at our wedding.

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz
or the arrow of carnations the fires hoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
Thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
So I love you because I know no other way...

than this: Where I does not exist, nor you,
So close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
So close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

*In case any of you have seen the movie Patch Adams, this is the poem he reads to his girlfriend when she's laying in bed.

~Leslie~

KlassicalKat · 02-11-2003, 02:54 AM

Oh, Leslie! I love Pablo Neruda's poetry and this is definitely one of my favorites!!! It is beautiful in the orginal Spanish, too! Thanks for posting it!

A photo of the young Pablo...

Kathryn

Aurora411 · 02-11-2003, 02:56 AM

Kat, have you seen the book: 100 Love Sonnets by Pablo Neruda??? It's a great investment for a Valentine's Day gift!

Thanks for the enthusiastic reply!

KlassicalKat · 02-11-2003, 03:16 AM

Oh YES!!!! Thanks for reminding me! In fact, that poem is one of the sonnets, isn't it? I GOTTA GET THIS!!!

Good thing my brother gave me a Barnes and Noble bookstore gift certificate for Christmas (and I haven't spent it yet...I think I know what to get, now!)

KKat