Today we remember Pablo Neruda

"I can write the saddest verses tonight". Thus begins, possibly, the most recited and well-known poem of the great Neruda. It is the poem number XX of his work "20 Love Poems and a Desperate Song". Although now that I think about it, maybe it's «I like it when you are silent because you are like absent ...». But Neruda is known not only for these verses, but for much more.

Today we remember Pablo Neruda, because to remember one of the best poets that literature has given birth to, you don't have to wait for anniversaries of any kind. Enjoy reading this article as much as I have enjoyed writing.

Chilean by birth

Chilean by birth, only, because his work is international and his name and surname are known throughout the world. He was born on July 12, what does the year matter, and his name was not the one with which he signed his great works. Ricardo Eliecer Neftali Reyes Basoalto, this was his real name.

Pablo loved ChileHe loved his country as much as his country loved him. Just take a look at his works "I confess that I have lived" o "By the shores of the world" to realize this passion for his country of origin.

He loved women, like every good poet, but the one that comes out the most in his poems, and therefore I think that the one that lasted the longest in his thought, was Matilde Urrutia, his wife.

Two more than remarkable data that I go on to mention as a mere detail, because poets should not only be known for the awards, or at least that is my humble opinion, he won the award Literature Nobel in 1971 and achieved a Doctorate Honoris Causa at the University of Oxford.

Poet and speaker

It is difficult to select one or two poems solely by Neruda to leave them as an example, but it is certainly more difficult not to fall into the usual selection his two most famous poems, for me the most beautiful ...

The first from the mouth of Neruda himself, the second I leave it to you in writing, so that everyone can read it when they feel like it and delight it with their own voice as many times as necessary.

POEM XV

I like you when you shut up because you are absent,
and you hear me from afar, and my voice does not touch you.
It seems that your eyes have flown
and it seems that a kiss closes your mouth.

As all things are filled with my soul
you emerge from things, filled with my soul.
Dream butterfly, you look like my soul,
and you look like the word melancholy.

I like you when you are quiet and you are like distant.
And you're like complaining, lullaby butterfly.
And you hear me from afar, and my voice does not reach you:
Allow me to hush myself with your silence.

Let me also speak to you with your silence
clear as a lamp, simple as a ring.
You are like the night, silent and constellated.
Your silence is from the stars, so far and simple.

I like you when you are silent because you are absent.
Distant and painful as if you had died.
A word then, a smile is enough.
And I'm glad, glad it's not true.