Pablo Neruda (Great Chilean Poet 1904 - 1973)

Pablo Neruda (1904-1973)

Neruda was accomplished in a variety of styles ranging from erotically charged love poems like his collection Twenty Poems of Love and a Song of Despair, surrealist poems, historical epics, and overtly political manifestos. Born Ricardo Eliecer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto in southern Chile on July 12, 1904, Neruda led a life charged with poetic and political activity. His production is exceptionally extensive. For example, his Obras Completas, constantly republished, comprised 459 pages in 1951; in 1962 the number of pages was 1,925, and in 1968 it amounted to 3,237, in two volumes.

Neruda occupied many diplomatic posts and served a stint as senator for the Chilean Communist Party. Years later, Neruda was a close collaborator to socialist President Salvador Allende.

With his works translated into manifold languages, Pablo Neruda is considered one of the greatest and most influential poets of the 20th century. During this time, Neruda received numerous prestigious awards, including the International Peace Prize in 1950, the Lenin Peace Prize and the Stalin Peace Prize in 1953, and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971.

Neruda's pen name was derived from Czech writer and poet Jan Neruda; it later became his legal name.

Drunk as Drunk

By Pablo Neruda | Translated by Christopher Logue
Drunk as drunk on turpentine
From your open kisses,
Your wet body wedged
Between my wet body and the strake
Of our boat that is made of flowers,
Feasted, we guide it - our fingers
Like tallows adorned with yellow metal -
Over the sky's hot rim,
The day's last breath in our sails.

Pinned by the sun between solstice
And equinox, drowsy and tangled together
We drifted for months and woke
With the bitter taste of land on our lips,
Eyelids all sticky, and we longed for lime
And the sound of a rope
Lowering a bucket down its well. Then,
We came by night to the Fortunate Isles,
And lay like fish
Under the net of our kisses.

Brown and Agile Child

By Pablo Neruda
Brown and agile child, the sun which forms the fruit
And ripens the grain and twists the seaweed
Has made your happy body and your luminous eyes
And given your mouth the smile of water.

A black and anguished sun is entangled in the twigs
Of your black mane when you hold out your arms.
You play in the sun as in a tidal river
And it leaves two dark pools in your eyes.

Brown and agile child, nothing draws me to you,
Everything pulls away from me here in the noon.
You are the delirious youth of bee,
The drunkedness of the wave, the power of the heat.

My somber heart seeks you always
I love your happy body, your rich, soft voice.
Dusky butterfly, sweet and sure
Like the wheatfield, the sun, the poppy, and the water.

The White Mans Burden

By Pablo Neruda
Lost in the forest, I broke off a dark twig
and lifted its whisper to my thirsty lips:
maybe it was the voice of the rain crying,
a cracked bell, or a torn heart.

Something from far off it seemed
deep and secret to me, hidden by the earth,
a shout muffled by huge autumns,
by the moist half-open darkness of the leaves.

Wakening from the dreaming forest there, the hazel-sprig
sang under my tongue, its drifting fragrance
climbed up through my conscious mind

as if suddenly the roots I had left behind
cried out to me, the land I had lost with my childhood---
and I stopped, wounded by the wandering scent

MsJacquiiC · #1 04-15-2008, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Lost in the forest, I broke off a dark twig
and lifted its whisper to my thirsty lips:
maybe it was the voice of the rain crying,
a cracked bell, or a torn heart.

Something from far off it seemed
deep and secret to me, hidden by the earth,
a shout muffled by huge autumns,
by the moist half-open darkness of the leaves.

Tribute.

By experience, whether baffled or bold
the night folds us to Her bosom
and whispers sweetthings of syrup
and sap and perfect confections.
Yay that we may know Her undying love,
for she is but Madam Poesy.

MsJacquiiC · #2 04-15-2008, 05:53 AM

I was chatting briefly with Eric and he mentioned Mr. Neruda. I'm not very familiar with his poetry - but I'd heard the name before and read a translation or 2 or 3... I tell ya - it was a fabulous hour I spent internet searching for some pieces of his poetry to post here this morning. Just wow! Such amazing talent.

Happy National Poetry Month!

Jacquii.

Kit Carson · #3 04-15-2008, 10:51 PM

Interesting you should say that...I just had a friend post one on her sight and knock me off my feet. A wow poet for sure! I too am unfamiliar with his work...but will not remain so culturally deprived. Thanks Jacquii!!

Eric · #4 04-16-2008, 01:37 AM

Jacquii,

You are awesome, thank you so much for posting Neruda's biography. I love his work and only wish I was as good. He is a big influence for me. Thanks again

Eric

JolieH · #5 04-16-2008, 10:46 AM

I recently developed a passion for Pablo Neruda. He's an incredible poet. I love his work.

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