I was in the second year of high school when I read these poems. At that time, I was young and inexperienced. I didn't really know what love was, and this made these poems seem more beautiful than they do now.

My motivation for reading this kind of poetry may have been a kind of practice to get acquainted with the nature of love.

In these poems, Pablo Neruda has vividly described both his national and his worldly patriotism, and its connection with other human issues, including war, is very touching. For me, who really likes poetry as long as it doesn't bore me, this kind of poetry was not very strange. However, it was the poet's view of the position of men and women in the poem that made me write this short text. The position of women and Neruda's definition of women in these poems is not very new compared to the years when the poet spent his life. It can even be said that Neruda's view is an unenlightened view. Here I only bring two short examples:

But wait for me

Keep your sweetness for me

I will also give you

A red flower

These are the last lines of a poem titled "Separation" in this collection.

×××

Don't be afraid

I am attached to you

But

I am neither far nor near

I am your master

The one you were waiting for...

These are also the last lines of a poem titled "Intoxication" in this collection.

Overall, they were beautiful love poems.

Bella,

Your eyes are so vast that they can't be contained in your face,

nor can they be contained on the earth.

There are countries, there are rivers,

in your eyes.

My homeland is in your eyes,

and I walk through them.

They give light to the world,

wherever I walk.

Bella,

Lovingly and very rich is this book.

Neruda is highly capable of connecting the unique motifs in the love poem to natural and national elements.

I read this collection many years ago, and this time around, reading it was not without charm.

I think I liked this poem the most:

"Yes, I remember, your closed eyes
hidden from the black light,
your body like an outstretched hand,
like a white cluster of the moon,
and the pleasure of that moment when it stings with pain,
when a storm wounds our roots,
and a spark of fire falls on our hair,
and when
we return calmly to life
with a great wound on our body,
as if we have come out of an ocean,

from a shipwrecked ship among the rocks and red shells
There are other winds too, not only the tall flower that has burst into flame
but the sprouts of wisdom
that suddenly strike when I am in line on the street.
I see you become my mittens
my stockings, you bring them to me from the window,
and your standing up on which all the waves of pleasure fall without it being shaken,
once again, my little daily companion
once again, a human being,

a fallen human being, proud in poverty,
not like the red delicate flower that withers in the ashes of love,
but all of life, all of life with soap and a knife
with the smell of the kitchen that I love and maybe I will never have
and in that your hands among the red apples of the earth
and your singer's mouth in winter
until you prepare the red meat for me
for me, lasting happiness will be on earth.
Oh my life, this is not the only fire that burns among us
this is all of life, it is a simple story,
a simple love of a woman and a man like all.

I have always thought that the life of every housewife is an untold epic. Thank you, dear Neruda, for this poem. Happy birthday."

All my love

I have scattered on the vast earth

All my love

With thorns and stars

I dedicated it to you

But you, with your small feet and heavy steps

You put out that fire

And you extinguished it

Oh, secret love, my little beloved

In my struggle, I did not sit down

In the pursuit of life

Towards peace, towards bread for all

I did not hesitate for a moment

But I raised you in my arms

And I kissed you on my lips

And I looked at you so

That no one else will look at another

Oh, secret love, my little beloved

You were able to measure me

You were able to measure a man who for you

Put aside blood, wheat and water

You, you mistook him

For a small fly that landed on your shoulder

Oh, secret love, my little beloved

My hope

That my eyes will be after you

When in my dreams

Stay, with what I have prepared for you

Go, with my sad reflection in your hands

I will still go forward

In the dark hearts, I will build wide roads

I will soften the earth

And I will scatter the stars of those who come on the way

Stay on the road

The night has come for you

Perhaps in the gray dawn

We will find each other again...

Oh, secret love, my little beloved

Poems of a torrential love were sent by a captain on the battlefield to his eternal beloved. It is truly incredible what can be said about such a basic sentiment. Love has always been a powerful force that can inspire the most beautiful and profound expressions. In the midst of the chaos and danger of war, this captain found the time and the courage to pen these poems, perhaps as a way to hold onto the hope and the beauty that love represents. Each word is a testament to his deep and abiding affection, a love that transcends the boundaries of time and space. These poems are not just words on a page, but a piece of the captain's heart, a gift to his beloved that will surely be cherished for a lifetime.

My first encounter with poetry has been in a very pleasant way thanks to this text. The poems, in their simplicity, lie their excellence. The words are placed in the exact place to convey a whole idea and feeling. Although not all the poems charmed me, I liked all of them and some seemed ineffable to me.

I keep that feeling of sweetness that reading these poems provokes in me and several teachings about love that I can apply in my daily life.

I also really liked that mixture between love and sadness, fear and joy, happiness and misfortune. It was very gratifying for me that there was all this mixture so as not to make the reading too cloying or too depressing.

This exploration of poetry has opened up a new world for me, allowing me to appreciate the beauty and power of words in a whole new light. I look forward to delving deeper into this wonderful art form and discovering more of its hidden treasures.

Such a beautiful collection of love poems. It is truly a masterpiece that touches the heart deeply. I received it as a gift from my boyfriend, and it was like a precious treasure falling into my hands. The moment I opened it, I was immediately drawn into the world of love and passion. The words seemed to dance on the pages, painting vivid pictures of our relationship. What really moved me was his reference to the earth. It added a sense of grounding and stability to our love, as if our connection was as strong and unwavering as the earth itself. It made me realize how much thought and effort he had put into choosing this gift for me. This collection of love poems will always hold a special place in my heart, a reminder of the love we share.

Laughter/
Because your laughter is a sharp sword for my hands/
Bread/
Air/
Light/
Spring/
But your laughter I will never/
Until my eyes close from the world.

Laughter is a precious gift. In this text, it is described as a sharp sword for the author's hands. Just like bread, air, light, and spring, which are essential for life, laughter holds a special place in the author's heart. However, the author emphasizes that they will never forget your laughter until their eyes close from the world. This shows the deep impact that your laughter has on the author. It could be that your laughter brings joy, comfort, or inspiration to the author. It is something that they cherish and will hold onto forever. Laughter has the power to brighten our days and make us forget our troubles, and it seems that your laughter has had this effect on the author.

The Earth:
And every wounded one
Has the shape of your mouth.

‎The Well:
My beautiful one in the well that you are
What I have placed aside for you in the heights
You will not see.

‎Dizziness:
If you take your life from me
You will die
Even if you are alive

‎Your Laughter:*
Take the bread from me, if you want.
Take the air from me, but
Not your laughter

*

{"Tango" is the name of track number 7 from the album Innocent Kisses by Mohsen Namjoo...
The poem of this track is a compilation of Namjoo and the poem Your Laughter by Pablo Neruda
I hope you listen to the track and enjoy it}

*

This piece of work seems to be a collection of profound and somewhat mysterious thoughts and images. The description of the Earth and the wounded having the shape of someone's mouth gives a sense of a connection between the world and an individual. The well and the things placed aside for someone but not seen add an element of mystery and unfulfilled expectations. Dizziness is associated with the idea of losing life and yet still being alive, perhaps suggesting a state of confusion or disorientation. Your Laughter is presented as something precious that should not be taken away, emphasizing its importance. The mention of the track and its connection to the poems of Namjoo and Neruda adds an interesting cultural and artistic context to the whole piece.

And every wounded one

has the shape of your mouth.

This simple yet profound statement holds a certain mystery and depth. It makes one wonder about the connection between the wounded and the image of someone's mouth. Perhaps it implies that the pain and suffering of the wounded leave an imprint that is reminiscent of the person associated with that mouth.

Maybe it is a symbol of the words that have been spoken or the emotions that have been expressed through that mouth, which have had an impact on the wounded.

It could also suggest that in the midst of their pain, the wounded find a strange comfort or familiarity in the shape of that particular mouth.

Whatever the interpretation may be, this phrase invites us to reflect on the complex relationships between pain, perception, and the power of certain images or symbols.

In this collection, we are faced with two aspects of Neruda: the lover Neruda and the revolutionary Neruda. Neruda's eroticism is charming and beautiful, but to some extent, the content of his poems is repetitive. As we approach the end of the book, the revolutionary aspect of Neruda becomes more prominent, and we encounter a Neruda who has the pain of the homeland and a longing to return to the struggle. The combination of these two aspects is also interesting in its own right.

The image of "woman" that Neruda presents in these poems did not quite appeal to my taste. Some elements of misogyny and a male gaze can be seen in some of the poems. I don't know, maybe I'm exaggerating, but the beloved that Neruda portrays is an artificial bride who should only be receptive to the love and lust of the lover.

I gave the score to the original version of the book and not to its translation. Unfortunately, six poems from the original version have been deleted in the Persian translation, and some of them are very good poems.

Among these six poems, three poems probably could not be published due to the high intensity of eroticism. I don't know why the remaining poems were not translated.

If you like erotic poetry, I recommend reading the two poems "Baber" and "Insect".

The last two poems of the collection also appear under the subsection "Lives", which is incorrect; these two poems are independent.

The poem presents a rather interesting and perhaps somewhat complex sentiment. The speaker desires the addressee to be as straight as either a sword or a road, suggesting a preference for directness and simplicity. However, the addressee insists on maintaining a nook of shadow that the speaker does not want. This creates a contrast between the two perspectives. The use of the imagery of the sword and the road emphasizes the idea of a clear and unobstructed path, while the mention of the shadowy nook implies something hidden or perhaps a deviation from the desired straightness. It makes one wonder about the nature of the relationship between the speaker and the addressee and what might be the reasons behind the addressee's insistence on keeping that particular aspect.

I want you straight as
the sword or the road.

But you insist
on keeping a nook
of shadow that I do not want.

Overall, the poem invites further exploration and interpretation of the emotions and dynamics at play.