Because I know no other way...
It is beautiful.
Here is the English translation from poemhunter.com.
Sonnet XVII
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, 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.
My attempt at poetry reading:
Click HERE to listen to Sonnet XVII (English, eh?)
Click HERE to listen to Soneto XVII (Original)
Pablo Neruda (July 12, 1904 – September 23, 1973), born Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto was a Chilean poet, diplomat and politican. For me, he was a poet above all else.
Beautiful poem!
ReplyDeleteIndeed...
ReplyDeleteI love this sonnet....very much so.
ReplyDeleteBecause I know no other way...
ReplyDeleteNeruda was brilliant.