XVII (I do not love you...) - A poem by Pablo Neruda

Pablo Neruda - XVII (I do not love you...)

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way

than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

Added: on January 10th, 2007 at 1:26 PM | Viewed: 50328 times | Comments (21)

XVII (I do not love you...) - Comments and Information
Poet: Pablo Neruda Poem: XVII (I do not love you...) Year: Published/Written in 1959 Poem of the Day on: Nov 2 2007 Comment 21 of 21, added on July 15th, 2007 at 2:39 PM. i haven't heard about this poem, until i saw the movie, "patch adams" when robin williams read this poem to carin mmm i think that was her name, when he read it to her, even when he had not finished the poem, i fell in love with it, so i searched the poem on line, and i found it, i really love this poem, coz the words, and the feeling, everything makes me feel, i don't know, comes to my heart, the poem is awesome gloris from Mexico Comment 20 of 21, added on April 21st, 2007 at 10:45 PM. This poem is probably the sweetest, most uplifting poem I have ever heard. When Robin Williams reads this one in the Patch Adams movie, I get choked up every time. This poem has gotten me out of trouble too many times to count....lol Kirt Nugent from United States Comment 19 of 21, added on January 10th, 2007 at 1:26 PM. my boyfriend, not knowing i had ever heard of this poem (much less that it is my all-time favorite), read this to me the first time he ever said i love you. i don't believe in coincidence - we are just perfect for each other. i love you Micah. MidnightsKiss from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, XVII (I do not love you...), has received 21 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Pablo Neruda with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!

Poem Info
XVII (I do not love you...) Year: Published/Written in 1959 Last read: 2009-11-20 13:51:59 Poem of the Day on: Nov 2 2007 Viewed 50328 times. Added on January 10th, 2007 at 1:26 PM.

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