I really enjoyed these poems

I am in one of the most desolate deserts,

where I sit beside the blooming lemon trees.

In every corner where life exists,

in a place where spring flourishes,

my love, I will be waiting for you...

This desolate desert seems to hold a certain charm as I am here, in the midst of it all, with the beautiful lemon trees in full bloom. The contrast between the harshness of the desert and the delicacy of the blooming trees is quite striking. And in every nook and cranny of this place, life is bustling, as if it is celebrating the arrival of spring. Amidst all this, my heart is filled with longing for you, my love. I know that no matter where I am, as long as there is life and beauty around, I will be here, patiently waiting for you to come and share this moment with me.

I read this book in the format of an audiobook, thus recited, and I really enjoyed it.

The poems are very evocative and convey that force of passion, desire, and love.

I also liked the prologue of the original version quite a lot. The real story behind it is more than interesting.

For those who don't know, Neruda wrote these verses inspired by his lover, and for that reason, he didn't want to publish it under his name. He invented a whole fiction to publish it anonymously, which is described in the prologue, a fictional story.

He admits this in an interview after separating from his wife and marrying his lover, only then admitting to being the author of the book.

It's truly a fascinating and engaging work that allows us to explore the depths of Neruda's emotions and the complex web of his personal life.

The audiobook format added an extra layer of charm, as the recitation brought the words to life in a unique way.

Overall, it was a wonderful literary experience that I would highly recommend to others.

Take the bread from me, if you will,

Take the air from me, but

Not your smile.

Take the red flower from me,

The sadness that you create,

The blue that suddenly

Overflows in your joy,

The sudden silver wave

That strikes in you.

After a hard battle, I return

With tired eyes that have seen the world

Without any change, but your smile that is released

And the flight of birds in the sky calls me

Opens all the doors of life

To me.

My love, your smile shines in the darkest moments

And if you see, suddenly my blood is flowing on the stone pavement of the street

Laugh, because your smile is for my hands

A sharp sword.

Your smile, in autumn

Must raise the soiled hem of the wave by the sea,

And in spring, my love, I want your smile

Like a flower that I was waiting for, a blue flower, a red flower,

My country that calls me.

Laugh at night, during the day, at the moon, laugh at the winding

Streets of the island, at this short boy

Who loves you,

But when our eyes meet and close,

When my feet walk and return,

Take the bread, the air, the light, the spring,

From me

But never your smile

Until my eyes close from the world...

Listen, Pablo Neruda was truly a complex individual, and his flaws are evident in much of his work. I had a great admiration for him in high school, but upon revisiting his poetry, it was both a lovely experience and an eye-opening one. I believe that if I had known him in real life, I might have deeply despised him.

However, I won't lie. "Tu Risa" is one of my all-time favorite poems, and reading it in Spanish is infinitely better than the English translation. So, I did enjoy reading this. It's one of those strange "should we separate the artist from the art" moments for me. Especially since all the poems in this collection deal with an actual relationship Pablo had with a specific woman. So much of it was problematic, yet it also has that bad boy romantic thing going for it that is so iconic and that he does so well.

But the question remains: is it iconic because we idolize toxic masculinity? Probably! So, I give 2.5 stars for "Tu Risa", the Spanish language, and the high school nostalgia, and subtract the rest for literally everything else about this man.

I think of the past.

A place where you

Sit among the branches

And quietly

Turn into a fruit.

A place where your roots drink the milk of the earth

And the song of your kiss

Gives the steps of a melody.

Your fragrance

Quickly turns into a kiss

And the sun and the earth

Bring their longing to you

In front of you.

Among the branches, I will know your hair

And your face

That is pictured in the heart of a leaf.

And you

Will bring me flowers

To the vicinity of my fire

And my mouth

Will burn again with your taste

With your kiss and your blood

That you are a fruit for me

From a garden whose lovers

Are in longing.

Sueños, espejismos y recuerdos de amor

This collection of poems titled "Sueños, espejismos y recuerdos de amor" presents a beautiful and diverse range of literary works. The "FRAGMENTOS PREFERIDOS" section offers several captivating pieces.

"EN TI LA TIERRA"描绘了一种亲密而又充满力量的情感，将爱人比作大地，形象地展现了两人之间的紧密联系。"LA BANDERA"则充满了激情与斗志，呼吁人们站起来，与邪恶、饥饿和苦难作斗争。"EL AMOR DEL SOLDADO"讲述了战争中士兵与爱人的故事，既有爱情的温柔，又有战争的残酷。"LA MUERTA"表达了对逝去爱人的深深怀念和无尽的悲痛，同时也展现了生命的坚韧和不屈。"EPITALAMIO"则是一首优美的婚礼颂歌，回忆了两人相识相知相爱的过程，充满了温馨与甜蜜。

The book also provides a list of similar books, such as "Citadelle" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, "Les Chants de Maldoror" by Comte de Lautréamont, and "La Montagne morte de la vie" by Michel Bernanos. Additionally, there is a link to a reading of "Epitalamio" by Jaime Sabines on YouTube.

Overall, "Sueños, espejismos y recuerdos de amor" is a wonderful collection of poems that will surely touch the hearts of readers and leave them with a lasting impression.

Nobel Laureate Pablo Neruda was not only an activist in Chile but also a renowned poet who crafted some of the world's most beautiful love poems.

I bought this edition of The Captain's Verses as it presents the poems in both the original Spanish, with its lovely lyric flow, and in English. Neruda was a master of imagery, baring his soul through his words. His poems are like bright flames that burn deep within, capable of making one weep. Reading them aloud is an experience that one must have.

Let me share some samples from his various poems. No other words can truly convey the power of his poetry.

From "The Dream": "Walking on the sands, I decided to leave you. I was treading a dark clay that trembled, and I, sinking and coming out, decided that you should come out of me, that you were weighing me down like a cutting stone, and I worked out your loss step by step: to cut off your roots, to release you alone into the wind."

From "If You Forget Me": "I want you to know one thing. You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if I touch near the fire the impalpable ash or the wrinkled body of the log, everything carries me to you, as if everything that exists, aromas, light, metals, were little boats that sail toward those isles of yours that wait for me."

The ending of "Letter On the Road": "And so this letter ends with no sadness: my feet are firm upon the earth, my hand writes this letter on the road, and in the midst of life I shall be always beside the friend, facing the enemy, with your name on my mouth and a kiss that never broke away from yours."

The poem "With You We Walked" presents a beautiful and emotional narrative.

We walked together, with flowers along the way. Unbeknownst to us, from this village, as we passed by the flowers, your name was on the flower beds.

And every wounded one has the shape of your mouth.

Laugh on the night, on the day, on the moon, laugh on the winding streets of the island. But when our eyes open and close, when my feet move and return, take the bread, the air, the light, the spring from me. But never take your laughter until my eyes close from the world.

This poem seems to express a deep and profound love, filled with tenderness and a sense of longing. It uses vivid imagery of flowers, laughter, and various elements of nature to convey the intensity of the emotions. The repetition of certain phrases adds a rhythmic quality to the poem, enhancing its beauty and impact. Overall, it is a touching and evocative piece of literature.

Take the bread from me,

If you wish

Take the air from me

But your laughter, the crater

The light, the spring

Take from me

But never take your laughter...

Until my eyes are closed to the world.....

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(Pablo Neruda) The love poems of Pablo Neruda

This collection was written during Neruda's exile in Italy.

The translated version of this work on the Internet, titled "Abediyet Yek Buse" with a translation by the renowned researcher Shahkar Binish, and the version available in the market with a translation by Ahmad Pouri, despite some changes to gain the approval of the Ministry of Culture, is still acceptable.

********************************************

The prison years of Pablo Neruda

Real name: Neftalí Ricardo Reyes Basoalto

Date and place of birth: July 12, 1904 - Parral

1920: Adoption of the pen name Pablo Neruda

1921: Travel to Santiago to study French

1922: Publication of the book "Gres y Miel en la Nieve"

1924: Publication of the book "Veinte Poemas de Amor y una Canción Desesperada"

1925: Management of the magazine Caballo de Troya

1927: Appointment as the Chilean consul in Burma

1928: Appointment as the Chilean consul in Sri Lanka

1930: Marriage to María Antonieta Hagenaar Vogelzang

1931: Chilean consul in Singapore

1934: Chilean consul in Barcelona

1935: Chilean consul in Madrid

1936: Outbreak of the Spanish Civil War and resignation from the consulship

1937: Publication of the book "España en el Corazón"

1939: Travel to France

1940: Return to Chile and writing of "Voz de Chile"

1941: Receipt of an honorary doctorate from the University of Michigan

1942: Death of his daughter in Europe

1944: Receipt of the Municipal Poetry Award

1945: Receipt of the Chilean National Literature Award, joining the Communist Party, and election to the Chilean Senate

1946: Receipt of the Mexican Medal of Honor

1947: Opposition to González Videla, the then president of Chile, and exile

1948: Resignation from the Senate and issuance of an arrest warrant

1949: Travel to the Soviet Union

1950: Meeting with Jawaharlal Nehru

1952: Publication of the book "Los versos del capitán" and return to Chile

1953: Celebration of the 50th anniversary with the presence of great writers from around the world

1957: Publication of the book "El Tercer Canto General"

1959: Publication of the book "Navegaciones y regresos" and the book "Cien sonetos de amor" and dedication to his third wife, Matilde Urrutia

1960: Receipt of an honorary doctorate in philosophy and science from the University of Oxford

1961: Publication of the book "Las piedras de Chile"

1962: Publication of the book "Las fuerzas del mar"

1964: Publication of the book "Memorial de Isla Negra"

1965: Publication of the book "Comiendo en el Perú"

1966: Publication of the book "Arte de la poesía"

1967: Publication of the book "La voz de los vientos"

1969: Publication of the book "Fin de mundo"

1970: Chilean ambassador in France during the presidency of Salvador Allende and publication of the book "Espada en la espalda"

1971: Receipt of the Nobel Prize in Literature

1972: Publication of the books "La rosa mutilada" and "Geografía infructuosa"

1973: Publication of the books "El mar y las campanas" and "Jardín de invierno" and the death of Neruda in Isla Negra

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When they tell you: "This man doesn't love you,"

Remember

My lonely feet at night,

Which are in search of your graceful and sweet feet.

Love is a complex emotion that can often be misinterpreted. Just because someone says that a man doesn't love you doesn't mean it's the truth. You should trust your own feelings and experiences.

Maybe the man has his own way of showing love, or perhaps there are misunderstandings. It's important to communicate openly and honestly with him to understand his true intentions.

Don't let the words of others cloud your judgment. Instead, focus on the connection you have with him and the moments you've shared. Sometimes, love is hidden beneath the surface and requires patience and understanding to discover.

So, when faced with such remarks, take a step back, think about your relationship, and make your own decision based on what you truly believe.

For me, the two gems of this book are "Epitalamio" and "La carta en el camino". It's as if the author leaves the best for the end. I think I'm still not very good at reading poetry, but it's a good start.

"Epitalamio" has a certain charm that draws me in. The words seem to dance on the page, creating a vivid and beautiful image in my mind. It's like a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered.

"La carta en el camino" is also very special. It gives me a sense of adventure and mystery. As I read, I feel like I'm on a journey with the author, uncovering secrets and experiencing new things.

Although I may not fully understand all the nuances of the poetry, I can still appreciate its beauty and power. It makes me want to explore more and learn about this wonderful art form. I'm excited to see where this journey takes me.