SONATA WITH SOME PINE TREES BY PABLO NERUDA
PABLO NERUDA: Sonata with Some Pine Trees
In the half-sun of long days
let us draw our tired bones together
let us forget the unfaithful ones
the unfeeling friends
the sun wavers among the pine trees
let us forget those who are unaware
there are lands within the land
small uncared-for countries
let us not think of the happy ones
let us forget their false teeth
let the sensitive ones sleep
on their fine feather beds
you have to know particular stones
full of layers and secrets
to rise with the greening light
with the despair of trains
and touch that crust of the world
which always travelled with us
let us forget the one who is hurt
who feeds on a single setback
the trees above leave open
a half-circle criss-crossed
with wires of pine and shadow
with the air shredding its leaves
let us forget with generosity
those who cannot love us
those who look for fire and fall
like us into oblivion
there is nothing better than
early morning at the sea-foam
a dog approaches and smells the sea
suspicious of the water
all the time the waves keep arriving
dressed in white for school
there is a tang of sun and salt
and from the mortuary of the seaweed
rises the smell of birth and decay
what justifies not being?
where did other people take you?
it is good to have a change of clothes
of skin of hair of work
to get to know the earth a little
to give your woman new kisses
to be part of the clear air
to disdain all oligarchies
when I went from fog to fog
navigating by my hat
I never found anyone with directions
they were all preoccupied
they were all off to sell things
nobody asked me who I was
till I got to recognizing myself
till I set off a smile
in the half sky and warp of branches
let us make peace with our tiredness
let us have a talk with roots
and with disenchanted waves
let us forget about hurry
the teeth of the efficient
let us forget the shadowy
miscellany of those who wish us ill
let us make a profession of being earth-bound
let us touch the earth with our beings.
A few moments to reflect before the arrival of 2023 .
Time to be thankful
tonight is no more a special moment to be thankful but at this liminal hour when 2022 has made its departure, let us be thankful .
some had to say good bye, some lovers slithered away and new friends brought the noise of their closeness to wake me up from the slumber of comfortable amnesia in the land where freedom of choice means whether to choose D
elmonte tomato sauce or Heinz!‘By all means you can forever ask,’ she answered.
‘Your lips ask a heavy price,’ I said.
‘It’s a fair exchange of one so fair,’ she said.
‘What lips are worthy for your mouth and lips?’ I asked.
‘Only the discerning can this secret know,’ she answered.
‘Don’t worship idols, be with the Truth,’ I said.
‘In the Way of Love, both are allowed,’ she said.
I said, ‘The tavern helps to heal the heart.’
‘Blessed are those who heal the lonely heart,’ she answered.
‘It’s not religion, the priestly robe, the wine,’ I said.
‘But to the gnostic both lead to the Divine,’ she answered.
‘What use to an old man of youthful lips?’ I asked.
‘By such sweet kissing, he grows young!’ she answered.
‘When shall the bridegroom embrace the bride?’
‘When the stars are that way inclined.’
I said, ‘The prayer of Hafiz is for His glory.’
‘This is the prayer of angels too, in heaven,’ she answered.”
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