I Like For You To Be Still - A poem by Pablo Neruda

Pablo Neruda - I Like For You To Be Still

I like for you to be still
It is as though you are 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 are 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 you are absent
Distant and full of sorrow
So you would've died
One word then, One smile is enough
And I'm happy;
Happy that it's not true

Added: on June 28th, 2006 at 10:42 PM | Viewed: 25323 times | Comments (12)

I Like For You To Be Still - Comments and Information
Poet: Pablo Neruda Poem: I Like For You To Be Still Comment 12 of 12, added on March 31st, 2007 at 7:43 PM. There is something very intimate and comforting in knowing that you can be next to a person you love and you don't need to talk. Not only there is some sort of complicity in the situation, there is implicit understanding. You can only do such a thing with somebody you feel very comfortable with, otherwise the silent would make you uneasy and you would feel that saying something it is necessary. Laura Happy Comment 11 of 12, added on January 16th, 2007 at 8:00 AM. I like for you to be still. É bem difícil prá mim traduzir esta frase. Décio from Brazil Comment 10 of 12, added on June 28th, 2006 at 10:42 PM. One must remember that the poem itself was written by a machista point of view. Woman at this time were mere trinckets, something to be seen and not heard. I say to mi esposo quite often "me gustas cuando callas," because I can enjoy his company in silence, not because he is better that way! Kathy from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, I Like For You To Be Still, has received 12 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
I Like For You To Be Still Last read: 2008-05-16 19:09:40 Viewed 25323 times. Added on June 28th, 2006 at 10:42 PM.

Neruda Info
Biography More Poems (45 poems) Books