I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way

than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.


Sonnet XVII, Pablo Neruda (via losingmyselfagain)

(Source: jeleveux)


  1. desch reblogged this from jeleveux
  2. madanach reblogged this from jeleveux
  3. bbeez reblogged this from beforeiloveandleaveyou
  4. beforeiloveandleaveyou reblogged this from butterfly-patches
  5. grapesofwrath reblogged this from maggiepies
  6. maggiepies reblogged this from losingmyselfagain
  7. butterfly-patches reblogged this from losingmyselfagain
  8. losingmyselfagain reblogged this from coffeeurlgirl
  9. jeleveux posted this