“Absence” by Pablo Neruda

July 9, 2012 | Miscellania

This week’s poem is “Absence” by Pablo Neruda. Like many of Neruda’s poems, “Absence” has such a deeply romantic and erotic quality to it that one can’t help but sigh a bit while reading it. (I do, at least.)

“Absence” by Pablo Neruda

I have scarcely left you
When you go in me, crystalline,
Or trembling,
Or uneasy, wounded by me
Or overwhelmed with love, as
when your eyes
Close upon the gift of life
That without cease I give you.

My love,
We have found each other
Thirsty and we have
Drunk up all the water and the
Blood,
We found each other
Hungry
And we bit each other
As fire bites,
Leaving wounds in us.

But wait for me,
Keep for me your sweetness.
I will give you too
A rose.

This seems like as good of a time as any to bring up this Simpsons quote in which Pablo Neruda is referenced (from the episode “Bart Sells His Soul”). I’ve always loved it.

Bart: I know that’s funny, but I’m just not laughing. [taps head]

Lisa: Hmm. Pablo Neruda said, “Laughter is the language of the soul.”

Bart: I am familiar with the works of Pablo Neruda.