sonnet 17 -pablo neruda

[drowningbabies.livejournal.com]

i do not love you as if you were the 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,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*

Comments

[alaric3.livejournal.com]

One of my favorites. Those final 4 lines are some of the best lines in any love poem, ever.

[icefacade.livejournal.com]

I love Neruda.

[astraynotion.livejournal.com]

Superb poem. Definitely a favourite. :)

[jadedpoet84.livejournal.com]

The ultimate love poem, in my humble opinion...