Sonnet XVII

[jadedpoet84.livejournal.com]

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, ‘tween 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 mine,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.



Pablo Neruda.

Comments

[maya.livejournal.com]

oh one of my favorite poems ever.

[mysneaker.livejournal.com]

me too. memorized and everything

[dferahgo.livejournal.com]

Mmm, I always love that one.

[jadedpoet84.livejournal.com]

Thank you all for the comments. I love this poem too, I think it is one of the most profound examples of love poetry...

[rmurphy.livejournal.com]

pablo is so beautiful to read that it hurts.