The way I love you.
XVII
I don't love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz,
or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:
I love you as one loves certain dark things,
secretly, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that doesn't bloom and carries
the lights of those flowers, hidden, within itself,
and thanks to you love the tight aroma that rose
from the earth lives in my body in darkness.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where
I love you directly without problem or pride:
I love you like this because I don't know any other way to love
except in this form in which I am not nor are you,
so close that your hand upon my chest is mine,
so close that your eyes close with my dreams.
-Pablo Neruda-
One Hundred Love Sonnets
translated by Mark Eisner
I don't love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz,
or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:
I love you as one loves certain dark things,
secretly, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that doesn't bloom and carries
the lights of those flowers, hidden, within itself,
and thanks to you love the tight aroma that rose
from the earth lives in my body in darkness.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where
I love you directly without problem or pride:
I love you like this because I don't know any other way to love
except in this form in which I am not nor are you,
so close that your hand upon my chest is mine,
so close that your eyes close with my dreams.
-Pablo Neruda-
One Hundred Love Sonnets
translated by Mark Eisner
Comments