Love Sonnet XVII by Pablo Neruda
In 'Love Sonnet XVII', Pablo Neruda expresses a profound and intimate love that transcends conventional comparisons. He begins by stating that his love is not like the typical beautiful things such as a 'salt rose' or 'topaz', but rather like 'certain dark things', suggesting a deep, mysterious, and perhaps hidden affection. This love exists 'in secret, between the shadow and the soul', indicating a private and spiritual connection. Neruda compares his love to a plant that never blooms but holds the essence of hidden flowers, symbolizing potential and unseen beauty. The fragrance of this love, though not visible, is deeply felt within him. The poet loves without understanding the reasons or origins, in a straightforward manner devoid of pride or complexity. He concludes by describing a unity so profound that the boundaries between the lovers blur, illustrating a closeness where their identities merge, and they become one. This sonnet captures the essence of a love that is both simple and profound, transcending physical and superficial attributes to reach a spiritual and emotional depth.
| Word | In English | Plain (English) | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| salt rose | a type of rose | a metaphor for something beautiful and rare | salt rohz |
| topaz | a gemstone | a precious yellow stone | toh-paz |
| carnations | flowers | a type of flower often used in bouquets | kar-nay-shuhnz |
| fragrance | scent | a pleasant smell | fray-gruhns |
| complexities | complications | difficult and intricate details | kuhm-plek-si-teez |
| pride | self-respect | a feeling of self-importance | prahyd |
| shadow | darkness | a dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface | sha-doh |
| soul | spirit | the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being | sohl |
| bloom | flower | to produce flowers | bloom |
| straightforwardly | simply | in a direct and uncomplicated manner | strayt-fawr-werd-lee |
Pablo Neruda was a Chilean poet-diplomat and politician who won the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature. Known for his passionate love poems, he wrote in various styles including surrealist and political manifestos. He served as a diplomat and was a close advisor to Chile's socialist president Salvador Allende.
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