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.
~Pablo Neruda~
Love Neruda….Who doesn’t
Neruda, a gift of life! Thanks for stopping by, Susan.
One can’t read Neruda’s love poetry without feeling the insistent force of it, without being enveloped by love. It is likewise good to pause in the world of words and let your art envelope me too. Good to see your ideas take shape in this mixed-media form in your sketchbook, how you put the forms in tension with each other and frame a space for them.
~lucy
Neruda’s words waters the earth and cultivates the heart indeed. Thank you, Lucy, for pausing here on this page and refreshing it with your own wonderful words!
Beautiful poem, beautiful art! Check out an amazing poster of that sonnet and more Neruda at
http://www.redpoppy.net/pablo_neruda.php
Paz,
Mark
Thank you for sharing, Mark!
Is that your art after the poem? Been browising your site, you are quite talented. Really love the tone(s)
yes, obviously that’s yours
Yes, it is. And thank you for spending time with the tones in my work!
beautiful poem. and beautiful artwork. thanks for posting.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.