conjectural navel gazing; jesus in lint form

pablo neruda and pentecost

This poem is from Cien sonetos de amor. I would encourage you all to read it. It is tremendous work. The intention of the poem is not overtly religious. It is a love poem. The chosen images, however, are so in keeping with my understanding of Pentecost that I had to share it.

You will find the translation in the extended link.

grid blog :: pentecost 2005

Aspero amor, violeta coronada de espinas,
matorral entre tantas pasiones erizado,
lanza de los dolores, corola de la cólera,
por qué caminos y cómo te dirigiste a mi alma?

Por qué precipitaste tu fuego doloroso,
de pronto, entre las hojas frías de mi camino?
Quién te enseñó los pasos que hasta mí te llevaron?
Qué flor, qué piedra, qué humo mostraron mi morada?

Lo cierto es que tembló la noche pavorosa,
el alba llenó todas las copas con su vino
y el sol estableció su presencia celeste,

mientras que el cruel amor me cercaba sin tregua
hasta que lacerándome con espadas y espinas
abrió en mi corazón un camino quemante.

- Pablo Neruda

Bitter love, a violet with its crown
of thorns in a thicket of spiky passions,
spear of sorrow, corrolla of rage: how did you come
to conquer my soul? What via dolorosa brought you?

Why did you pour your tender fire
so quickly, over my life's cool leaves?
Who pointed the way to you? What flower,
what rock, what smoke showed you where I live?

Because the earth shook - it did -, that awful night;
then dawn filled all the goblets with its wine;
the heavenly sun declared itself;

while inside, a ferocious love wound around
and around me - til it pierced me with its thorns, sword,
slashing a seared road through my heart.

- Pablo Neruda
- Stephen Tapscott, translator

Posted by tripp at May 13, 2005 11:43 AM