Otros días vendrán, será entendido
el silencio de plantas y planetas
y cuántas cosas puras pasarán!
Tendrán olor a luna los violines!
El pan será tal vez como tú eres:
tendrá tu voz, tu condición de trigo,
y hablarán otras cosas con tu voz:
los caballos perdidos del Otoño.
Aunque no sea como está dispuesto
el amor llenará grandes barricas
como la antigua miel de los pastores,
y tú en el polvo de mi corazón
(en donde habrán inmensos almacenes)
irás y volverás entre sandías.
Translation to English
Other days will come, it will be understood
the silence of plants and planets
and how many pure things will pass!
The violins will smell like moon!
The bread will perhaps be like you are:
it will have your voice, your wheat nature,
and other things will speak with your voice:
the lost horses of Autumn.
Even if it’s not as it’s meant to be
love will fill large barrels
like the old honey of shepherds,
and you in the dust of my heart
(where there will be immense warehouses)
you will come and go among watermelons.
The Context and Meaning of the Poem
Pablo Neruda, one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, wrote his famous collection of love sonnets, “Cien sonetos de amor” or “One Hundred Love Sonnets,” in the 1950s for his beloved wife, Matilde Urrutia. This particular poem, Sonnet XVIII, is no exception to the deep love and passion that Neruda expresses for Matilde throughout the collection. The context of this sonnet lies in understanding the boundless nature of love and how it transcends time and space.
The poem begins with a sense of hope for the future, with the speaker contemplating a time when the silence of plants and planets will be understood. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the understanding and acceptance of one’s own existence and the passing of time. The mention of pure things suggests a sense of clarity and simplicity which contrasts with the complexities of life and love.
Neruda then paints a beautiful picture of the future, with violins that will smell like the moon, invoking a sense of mystery and romance. This could also represent the harmony and perfect synchronization between lovers. He then compares bread to the beloved, highlighting the close connection and nourishment that love brings. The mention of other things speaking with the beloved’s voice symbolizes how their love will continue to grow and manifest itself in the world around them.
The final quatrain of the sonnet shifts the focus to the enduring quality of love, regardless of its physical presence. The speaker declares that even if love is not as it is traditionally understood, it will fill their hearts and souls, likening it to the ancient honey of shepherds. This could be interpreted as a reference to the timelessness and sweetness of love.
The poem concludes with a powerful image of the beloved traveling through the speaker’s heart, implying that their love will always be present and returning like watermelons during their season. The use of sandías or ”watermelons” is significant as they are a prominent fruit in Chile, the home country of Neruda and Matilde, and symbolize their shared culture and memories together.
this poem showcases the timeless and boundless nature of love and its ability to transcend physical limitations. It emphasizes the strong connection between two people and how their love continues to grow and evolve, leaving a lasting impact on their lives. Neruda’s vivid imagery and use of metaphors make this sonnet a poignant and beautiful expression of love that continues to resonate with readers today.
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