I want you to know
one thing.
You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.
Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.
If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.
If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.
But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.
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Comments
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My favorite stanza is the last one.
"My love feeds on your love,beloved"-love is like a plant,flower that needs water to grow and become stronger.He needs her love to keep her in his heart.As long as she lives their love will be there.
"if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,"- the flower represents emotions,passion,love itself,her kisses that seek him.
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Beautiful poetry, one of my personal favourites. There is but one Pablo Neruda. Isn't it wonderful that a Nobel prizewinner for Literature wasn't afraid to show vulnerability? He's actually showing us that love can't survive without vulnerability, the art of letting it all out...!
~ Nicolette
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Spectacular.Just spectacular.
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I see the theme here as emotional vulnerability. These are the seeds of true love that he expresses. When it's true love there is a natural inclination to reach out and hold it, to safeguard that jewel -an attempt to make what is fluid more concrete.
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simply wow.. wonderful!
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If You Forget Me.
From guest Cyra Elaine (contact)
A wonderful poem, very insightful into how guys think, it make me think that maybe when a breakup occurs. the guy only acts like he is over it. love is a beautiful thing. -
royal
From guest imran (contact)
very nice...but what a royal attitude!! it's like: you have to initiate and I shall reciprocate. the burden of keeping me is on you. -
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IMHO only a feminist would see it that way. He's only saying these things to her because he's feeling emotionally vulnerable - something that is more the rule with us men than the exception. In spite of what's said here, I see him as the weaker player here.
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Help
From guest Sierra (contact)
I am using this poem in a paper I am writing and I would greatly appreciate if there is someone who could give me some information about it like when it was written, who it was written about, and in what period of Neruda's life was it written. So please someone help me! -
If you forget me
Inspiring,with its array of beautiful thoughts
which can only emanate from a higly attached mind!
NuggehalliPankaja -
naturally sweet
From guest Aquarius (contact)
a beautiful poem in beautiful words smooth lines and perhaps true thoughts and a much deeper philosophy than is readily visible -
Great
Every word in this poem is so carefully selected that the poem has become a magic spell in the sense that no one can resist this tremendous beauty of expression.
The main theme of the poem is a peculiar psyche of every one who loves, for every emotion is enhanced by the response of the beloved. Everyone knows this but to express the feelings so boldly is an art and Pablo is the master of this art
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He seems to convey many messages in this poem... almost tact for tact with,
"Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little."
"If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you."
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This piece by Neruda is exceptional in that it conveys so much meaning in such a conversational tone. In reading this...i almost felt as though Pablo were speaking directly to me...telling me about his heart. It takes a great deal of skill to make something convey such impact with what seems apparent ease to the naked eye.
UB
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