I’ve been reading some Pablo Neruda and all his works that I am able to read are translated from Spanish. If his words are able to affect me so when they are filtered through a translators mind, how much more would the original words affect me? I want to learn Spanish and learn it in depth.
(It would also be nice to understand and respond back to those people who break out into Spanish expecting me to know it.)
Here are a few of my favorites:
My Dog Has Died – This reminds me of what the Speaker for the Dead might write for his dog.
Come With Me, I Said, And No One Knew (VII)
Don’t Go Far Off, Not Even For A Day
Gentlemen Alone – I was speechless after reading this one.
I Carve Your Mouth, Your Voice, Your Hair
I Do Not Love You Except Because I Love You – I know this paradox.
Leaning Into The Afternoons – This should be made into a song. The imagery is beautiful!
Ode To The Artichoke – I love how this poem turns.
Saddest Poem – I have an affection for literature that is self-aware, as this poem is and Dave Egger’s A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is.
* an alternate translation of the same poem. I like it better sometimes, and worse at others.
And Because Love Battles – “To bread I do not ask to teach me
but only not to lack during every day of life.” Beautiful.
Fleas Interest Me So Much – Now I mind a little less being compared to a flea.
There are others, but I have just realized I’ve already suggested more than a few.