Between the shadow and the soul

Sonnet XVII

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.

  ~ Pablo Neruda

Found at A Goddess' Journey.

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.

  ~ Pablo Neruda

Comments

[ikaba]

Thank you for the trackback, Tamar. I've just found your site this week and have been reading through it. I find it amazing how much we humans have in common, regardless of age, background, upbringing, etc. You've inspired a few posts that I'm working on and hope to post in the next week or so - once I get all my thoughts in order.
(((((Tamar))))))

[Tamar]

Thanks, ikaba. Looking forward to reading more of you at your site!

[Gemma Grace]

Gorgeous ~ both in verse and sentiment!

[Soledad]

Thanks!!
I've benn serching for this poem since i saw the movie Patch Adams... its a beautiful way to say the person you love, that you love them.

BYE!

[Maria del Carmen]

Estoy tan confundida respecto de este poema... No es de Walt Whitman???
POR DIOS!!
jajaja
alguien aclare

gracias, besos