Thursday, August 25, 2011

not only the fire

there are other memories
not only flowers from the fire
but little sprouts
that suddenly appear
when i go on trains
or in the streets.

i see you
washing my hankerchiefs,
hanging at the window
my worn-out socks,
your figure on which everything,
all pleasure like a flare-up,
fell without destroying you,
again,

little wife
of every day
again a human being,
humbly human,
proudly poor
as you have to be in order to be
not the swift rose
that love's ash dissolves
but all of life,
all of life with soap and needles,
with the smell that i love
of the kitchen that perhaps we shall not have
and in which your hand among the fried potatoes
and your mouth singing in the winter
until the roast arrives
would be for me the permanence
of happiness on earth.

Ah, my life,
it is not only the fire that burns between us
but all of life,
the simple story,
the simple love,
of a woman and a man
like everyone.

-pablo neruda.

12 comments:

Dee Paulino said...

you can never go wrong with Pablo Neruda. never.

Eleanor at Mirror Of My World said...

this is so beautiful. i dont know the poet im going to look him up... xx thanks for the inspiration and kind words on my blog xo

Lillian C said...

Oh, how I love Pablo Neruda. I haven't read poetry in too long though - I love that you featured this today :) It makes me fall in love with words all over again.

Valerie said...

ah, neruda. always such perfect imagery. love it.

Blondie's Journal said...

This is one of my favorites!

XO,
Jane

Meri said...

He writes the most beautiful things, I wish my Spanish reading skills were as strong as they used to be, I used to be able to (sort of) read some of his stuff and feel competent. Now? Not so much.

Amber said...

I love when he says "little wife" Thats just precious.

Anonymous said...

I adore him... I was wondering whether Pablo was named after him or Pablo Picasso. Now I know! His words always strike a chord.

Like I said earlier, stay safe and dry this weekend. I hope you are very far inland and get nothing but a few light sprinkles. :)

Gentri said...

Gorgeous!

erika said...

<3 Oh, Pablo. :)

Hayley said...

awww beautiful words. I love poetry =)

http://hayleyhour.blogspot.com/

Cara-Mia said...

Love Pablo Neruda. <3

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