pablo neruda

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 bloomsbut 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 waythan 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.


I really love this poem. I didn't know it was written by Pablo Neruda and only years after watching the movie Patch Adams did I find out who the author was. A friend of my told me about it because he loved the poem just as much and even used it for the front cover of the wedding invitations that he sent to us when he got married.

The poem was overly touching in its simplicity- a reflection of a pure and unadulterated love that I wished I would find in the distant future. Well, so much for wishful thinking...