recalling neruda

I remember one english class in high school when I first heard about Pablo Neruda. I'm sure my classmates will remember that moment in the AV room where we listened to famous actors reciting Neruda's poems on Love (for the movie IL Postino- The Postman). As an early birthday present to myself, when I stumbled on the book version two weeks ago, I bought it. His poems are unstructured and free-flowing; the messages so raw it's just so very very human. The following is my current favorite entitled I like for you to be still:

I like for you to be still: it is as though you were absent,
and you hear me from far away and my voice does
not touch you.
It seems as though your eyes had flown away
and it seems that a kiss had sealed your mouth.

As all things are filled with my soul
you emerge from the things, filled with my soul.
You are like my soul, a butterfly of dream,
and you are like the word Melancholy.

I like for you to be still, and you seem far away.
It sounds as though you were lamenting, a butterfly
cooing like a dove.
And you hear me from far away, and my voice does
not reach you:
Let me come to be still in your silence.

And let me talk to you with your silence
that is bright as a lamp, simple as a ring.
You are like the night, with its stillness and constellations.
Your silence is that of a star, as remote and candid.

I like for you to be still: it is as though your were absent,
distant and full of sorrow as though you had died.
One word then, one smile, is enough.
And I am happy, happy that it's not true.

.....all together now, SIGH
(Pablo Neruda, I know you're dead but please don't hate me for posting the entire poem online....hehehe)