I don’t love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz, by Pablo Neruda — Analysis & Translation

Original Poem

I don’t love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz, or arrow of carnations that propagate fire: I love you as one loves certain obscure things, secretly, between the shadow and the soul. I love you as the plant that doesn’t bloom but carries the light of those flowers, hidden, within itself, and thanks to your love the tight aroma that arose from the earth lives dimly in my body. I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where, I love you directly without problems or pride: I love you like this because I don’t know any other way to love, except in this form in which I am not nor are you, so close that your hand upon my chest is mine, so close that your eyes close with my dreams.

Translation (English)

I don’t love you like you are a salty rose, a precious gem, or a fiery flower: I love you like someone loves mysterious things, in secret, between shadows and the soul. I love you like a plant that doesn’t bloom but holds the light of those flowers inside, and because of your love, a gentle scent from the earth lives softly in my body. I love you without knowing how, when, or where, I love you simply without issues or pride: I love you like this because I don’t know another way to love, except in this way where I am not myself and you are not yourself, so close that your hand on my chest is my hand, so close that your eyes close with my dreams.

About the Poet

Pablo Neruda (20th Century)

Pablo Neruda was a Chilean poet-diplomat and politician who won the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature. He was known for his passionate love poems, political manifestos, and historical epics. Neruda served as a senator and diplomat, and his life was marked by political activism and exile.

Historical Context

Literary Form: Sonnet
When Written: Published in 1959
Background: This poem is part of Pablo Neruda's collection 'One Hundred Love Sonnets', which explores the depth and complexity of love. Neruda often used his poetry to express profound emotions and personal connections, reflecting his own experiences and relationships.

Sources: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49236/one-hundred-love-sonnets-xvii, https://poets.org/poem/one-hundred-love-sonnets-xvii-i-dont-love-you-if-you-were-rose, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Neruda

Detailed Explanation

Pablo Neruda's poem 'One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVII' explores a deep, intimate form of love that transcends conventional comparisons. The speaker begins by rejecting traditional symbols of beauty and passion, such as roses and fire, to describe their affection. Instead, they liken their love to obscure and hidden things, suggesting a profound connection that exists in the shadows and depths of the soul. The imagery of a non-blooming plant carrying hidden light symbolizes a love that is not immediately visible but is deeply rooted and enduring. The speaker expresses a love that is instinctive and unconditional, without the constraints of time or ego. The final lines emphasize the unity and closeness between the lovers, where individual identities blur, and they become inseparably linked. This poem captures the essence of a love that is both mysterious and all-encompassing, highlighting Neruda's ability to convey complex emotions through vivid and evocative imagery.

Themes

Literary Devices

Word Dictionary

Word	Meaning	Translation	Transliteration
propagate	spread	to spread or promote	prop-uh-gate
obscure	hidden	not clear or easily seen	uhb-skyoor
dimly	faintly	with little light	dim-lee
aroma	scent	a pleasant smell	uh-roh-muh
pride	self-esteem	a feeling of self-respect	prahyd
bloom	flower	to produce flowers	bloom
carries	holds	to hold or contain	kar-eez
arose	came up	emerged or appeared	uh-rohz
directly	straightforwardly	in a direct manner	dih-rekt-lee
shadow	darkness	a dark area or shape	shad-oh