Love Sonnet XVII by Pablo Neruda by Pablo Neruda — Analysis & Translation

Original Poem

Love Sonnet XVII by Pablo Neruda I do not love you as if you were a 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

Translation (English)

I don't love you like you are a common rose or a shiny gem. Or like the fiery arrow of carnations. I love you like dark things that are loved secretly. In the quiet space between shadow and soul. I love you like a plant that doesn't bloom But holds the light of hidden flowers inside. Thanks to your love, a solid fragrance Rises from the earth and lives deeply in me. I love you without knowing how or when or from where. I love you simply, without complications or pride. I love you because I don't know any other way. Than this: where there is no I or you, So close that your hand on my chest is my hand. So close that when you close your eyes, I fall asleep.

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 in various diplomatic roles and was a senator for the Chilean Communist Party.

Historical Context

Literary Form: Sonnet
When Written: Published in 1959
Background: This sonnet is part of Neruda's collection 'One Hundred Love Sonnets', which explores the depths of love and intimacy. The poem reflects Neruda's unique style of expressing love in a profound and unconventional manner.

Sources: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49236/one-hundred-love-sonnets-xvii, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Neruda

Detailed Explanation

Pablo Neruda's 'Love Sonnet XVII' expresses a deep, intimate love that transcends conventional comparisons. The poet begins by stating that his love is not like a beautiful rose or a precious gem, but rather like something dark and secret, cherished in the quiet spaces of the soul. This suggests a profound connection that goes beyond superficial beauty. In the second stanza, Neruda compares his love to a plant that doesn't bloom but holds potential within, symbolizing a love that is not always visible but deeply rooted and essential. The fragrance that lives in his body thanks to this love indicates how deeply it affects him. The third stanza emphasizes the simplicity and purity of his love, free from pride or complexity. The final lines illustrate a unity so complete that the boundaries between 'I' and 'you' dissolve, highlighting the closeness and interconnectedness of their relationship. The poem uses metaphors and imagery to convey the depth and intensity of love, making it both personal and universal.

Themes

Literary Devices

Word Dictionary

Word	Meaning	Translation	Transliteration
topaz	a yellow gemstone	a shiny yellow gem	toh-paz
carnations	a type of flower	a flower with a spicy smell	kar-nay-shuns
fragrance	scent	a nice smell	fray-gruhns
complexities	complicated details	complicated parts	kom-plek-si-tees
pride	self-respect	feeling important	pryd
shadow	dark area	where light is blocked	sha-doh
soul	spirit	the spirit of a person	sohl
straightforwardly	directly	simply and honestly	strayt-for-ward-lee
blooms	flowers	makes flowers	bloomz
hidden	concealed	not seen	hid-en
exist	be	to be there	ig-zist
risen	lifted	gone up	riz-en
darkly	in a dark way	in a gloomy way	dark-lee
chest	upper body	front of the upper body	chest
asleep	sleeping	sleeping	uh-sleep