Love Sonnet XVII by Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda's 'Love Sonnet XVII' is a profound expression of love that transcends the ordinary. The poet begins by rejecting conventional comparisons of love to beautiful objects like roses or jewels. Instead, he loves in a deeper, more mysterious way, akin to the love for dark, secret things. This love is intimate and profound, existing between the shadow and the soul. Neruda uses the metaphor of a plant that doesn't bloom but holds the potential for beauty within, symbolizing a love that is not always visible but deeply rooted and enduring. The poem conveys a sense of unity and oneness, where the boundaries between the lovers blur, emphasizing a love that is straightforward, devoid of pride, and all-consuming. The imagery of hands and eyes closing together suggests a deep connection and shared existence, where the lovers are so intertwined that they become indistinguishable from one another.
| Word | In English | Plain (English) | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| topaz | a precious stone | a valuable gemstone, often yellow | toh-paz |
| carnations | a type of flower | flowers often used in bouquets | kar-nay-shuhnz |
| fragrance | pleasant smell | a smell that is nice | fray-gruhns |
| complexities | complicated aspects | things that make something difficult | kuhm-plek-si-teez |
| pride | self-respect | feeling good about oneself | prahyd |
| shadow | dark area | a dark spot where light is blocked | sha-doh |
| soul | spirit | the invisible part of a person | sohl |
| straightforwardly | directly | in a simple and honest way | streyt-fawr-werd-lee |
| exist | to be | to be alive or present | ig-zist |
| bloom | to flower | to make flowers | bloom |
| hidden | concealed | not seen | hid-uhn |
| darkly | in a dark way | in a mysterious way | dahrk-lee |
| close | near | not far apart | klohs |
| hand | part of the body | the part at the end of the arm | hand |
| chest | upper body | the front of the upper body | chest |
Pablo Neruda was a Chilean poet-diplomat and politician who won the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature. Known for his passionate love poems, Neruda wrote in various styles, including surrealist and historical epics. He served as a diplomat and was a close advisor to Chile's socialist president Salvador Allende.
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