soneto xvii (broken)
for Grace at a siding
I love you not
for your rose flavor and hue of blue lustre,
or temper—carnations that puff fire:
I love you in close dark where
nameless things are loved,
whisper-quiet through shadow
which follows your soul,
I love you—
plant that doesn’t flourish,
plant, playing hide and seek in flowers
I thank your love-
pressing aroma ascended
from earth, darkly
alive in my body
I love you
not knowing how, when, nor where—
a direct manner
I see no problems or pride
This is my love because
I love no other way
than this: together we
each cease to exist yet so near,
mine your open hand on my chest,
and your eyes secure
as I fall to sleep
Poet: Pablo Neruda
Interpretation / Translation: mannygrimaldi
10 thoughts on "soneto xvii (broken)"
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Wonderful translation. Neruda was such a romantic! Too bad he was also a scoundrel.
Yes, I have an Italian friend you may know about who can’t even separate the talent from his character. She almost vomits at my proclivity for low frequency work. In the end, she deserves a litany of poems.
but thank you Kevin
He was also a rebel! <3
Whew! I love so many lines.
for your rose hue and blue lustre,
or temper–carnations that puff fire
plant that doesn’t seek florist
plant, paying and seek in flowers
thank you love
Gorgeous. “I love no other way than this.”
thanks iily B
Neruda was a complex, brilliant and flawed man like great men. He has many facets. I love been reading him for decades and I’m don’t going to stop.
I concur! We can learn so much from his love poems as well as from his political poetry and from his poetry with strong environmental themes. He was an advocate for social justice. I find him very relevant today.