te amo como se aman ciertas cosas oscuras
secretamente, entre la sombra y el alma

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Soneto XVII by Pablo Neruda

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.

                          

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