Scan barcode
mfumarolo's review against another edition
3.0
Like most poems and poetry collections, this one had pieces that spoke directly to me and others that went right over my head. The translations side by side in English and Spanish were a great visual, and I enjoyed opening myself up to the mind and work of a poet who I was mostly unfamiliar with before. This collection has left me with a long list of poems I can't wait to revisit.
emilymorgan02's review against another edition
4.0
A lovely sampling of Neruda poems including some about love and some about country and some about life. I picked this up after finishing A Long Petal of the Sea which told about Neruda's work to get Spanish refugees into Chile on a boat. It was the perfect pairing.
whatthefawkes's review
5.0
There are no amount of words that I could use that could describe just how beautiful Neruda's poetry is. He is so much more than the assumption of a poet that writes nothing more than love poetry. He is politically ignited, affected by the tragic events that surround him. If you ever do one thing in your life, it's to read Neruda.
e333mily's review against another edition
5.0
I found Neruda because of rap music and magpies. I was sitting on the floor of a local bookstore, running my fingers across the spines of poetry books, picking out ones here and there, as you do. Neruda's name was already familiar to me because it is mentioned in one of my favourite songs, Almost Cut my Hair (for Crosby) by Milo – "reading Pablo Neruda and feeling small now". I didn't know at the time why this author made him feel small, but I think I understand now; "I toil deftly, circling above myself." When I came across his name at the store I picked out the book, thinking I'd have a quick flick through. As soon as I saw the cover I knew I'd buy it; it's a picture of Pablo, mid-laugh with a magpie sitting on his head. Anyone who knows me knows that I love birds, and magpies have always had a special place in my heart. Now, so does Neruda.
"...spread like the lunar wave of a just created ocean
over lands and shorelines tormentedly deserted.
Oh, let what I am keep existing and ceasing to exist,
and let my obedience align itself with such iron conditions
that the quaking of deaths and of births doesn't shake
the deep place I want to reserve for myself eternally.
Let me, then, be what I am, wherever and in whatever weather,
rooted and certain and ardent witness..."
"...spread like the lunar wave of a just created ocean
over lands and shorelines tormentedly deserted.
Oh, let what I am keep existing and ceasing to exist,
and let my obedience align itself with such iron conditions
that the quaking of deaths and of births doesn't shake
the deep place I want to reserve for myself eternally.
Let me, then, be what I am, wherever and in whatever weather,
rooted and certain and ardent witness..."
asma_aj's review against another edition
4.0
Whether you're into poetry or not, Neruda is a must for all lovers of words. His poems are SO beautiful and vivid, with so many emotions.
magicseaweed's review against another edition
5.0
Neruda has a reputation for being a love poet so I expected a variety of cheesy poems with a few stanzas of poetic gold thrown in (since he must be famous for a reason).
Yeah, I was wrong. The poems cover a wide spread of human experiences. They are all really good.
Took me a long time to read because I had to really slow way down to digest the lines.
Yeah, I was wrong. The poems cover a wide spread of human experiences. They are all really good.
Took me a long time to read because I had to really slow way down to digest the lines.
jolibon4e's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
nanikeeva's review against another edition
5.0
very fun to have to engage the poetry-enjoying gears of the brain for once!