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Twenty Love Poems: And a Song of Despair
Twenty Love Poems: And a Song of Despair | Pablo Neruda
57 posts | 71 read | 40 to read
First published in 1924, "Viente Poemas de Amor y una Cancion Desperada remains among Neruda's most popular work. Daringly metaphorical, these poems are based upon his own private associations. Their sensuous use of nature symbolism to celebrate love and to express grief has not been surpassed in the literature of our century. This edition offers the original Spanish text, with masterly translations by W.S. Merwin on facing pages.
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Gissy
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️🤍🖤 10mo
Eggs Perfect ❤️🖤❤️ 10mo
41 likes2 comments
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GatheringBooks
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TheSpineView 🤩🤩🤩 13mo
27 likes1 comment
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Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick
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Greetings from Friendsgiving! Since I've been crap at #foodandlit the last few months, the least I could do is bring Chilean wine to our festivities! I'm hoping to read the tagged book and perhaps a book by Isabel Allende, but this will clearly bleed into December.

Catsandbooks Ooo looks great! 🧡❤️ 13mo
53 likes1 comment
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GatheringBooks
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#PoetryMatters Day 10: #Sudden
“If suddenly you forget me…”

dabbe 💙💚💙 2y
TheSpineView Lovely 2y
25 likes2 comments
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Bookwomble
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Mehso-so

Meh 🫤 It was ok. I was expecting to be blown away, and was mildly disappointed. There were some lines I liked, but I'm clearly not seeing the depths others find here. I'll reread it sometime to see if I can plumb anything more profound, as undoubtedly it's me, not Pablo. 3⭐
I'll read something else by an author from #Chile to do justice to my #ReadingTheAmericas2023 challenge.
@BarbaraBB @Librarybelle

Librarybelle I don‘t always discover the deeper meaning in poetry 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y
vivastory This is not Neruda's best IMO Have you read Bolaño? If not, I'd recommend him as an alternative choice. If you're looking for a poet I really like Nicanor Parra. 2y
Bookwomble @Librarybelle Well, me neither, truth be told 😏 2y
Bookwomble @vivastory I'll give this collection, and perhaps another should I come across one, a chance. I see he was 20 when he wrote it, which is remarkable for that age but, perhaps, explains the overblown sentiment (or perhaps I'm a cynical old man 😄). Alain Fournier's poems written at about the same age appeal to me more. I've not heard of Parra, so another for the watchlist 😊 2y
Bookwomble @vivastory I have picked up a Bolaño from the library. I'll get to it soon, and hope I like him more than I did Neruda 🤞😊 2y
35 likes5 comments
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Bookwomble
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#ReadingTheAmericas2023 #Chile 🇨🇱
On the way to Scotland for a few days. Naturally, it's pissing down, but as I've prepared for that eventuality with a massive stack of books & a bottle of whisky, I won't mind staying in, or getting soaked & wrapping up afterwards, as the case may be 🌧️📚🥃
Mrs B is driving while I read. Soundtrack has included The Proclaimers, Aztec Camera & Paolo Nutini for 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 solidarity, but Elvis is on now 🎶

BarbaraBB I love Neruda 💕💕💕 2y
TrishB This sounds fab! 2y
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LeahBergen I have a soft spot for this Neruda collection. ❤️ Enjoy your getaway! 2y
Librarybelle Enjoy your trip!! 2y
Bookwomble @BarbaraBB @TrishB @LeahBergen @Librarybelle Thank you all - we had a touch of snow overnight, which looks lovely while not being too much of an inconvenience 😊 Unfortunately the Neruda didn't quite do it for me 🤷🏻‍♂️ 2y
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LapReader
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Pickpick

First poetry book of 2023. I try to read a poem a day. Ideally with organic tea in bed and because I‘m on school holidays I can do just that. With no alarm to wake me up. The painting in the back ground is at my mother‘s place as you walk up the stairs to the landing. It‘s of a shearing shed. Both her father and brother were shearers. Good ones so I‘ve heard. I am enjoying these romantic poems so far. I scored them at an op shop a week ago for $3.

IuliaC I try to read poetry too, at least from time to time 😊 2y
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Kitta
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No list is complete without Pablo Neruda. Accessible even to those who don‘t read poetry, his work is beautiful.

“I want to do with you what spring does with the cherry trees” 🌸

#alphabetgame #letterT @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Graywacke I think I have this book. But I haven‘t read it. 2y
Kitta @Graywacke you should read it! It‘s easy to dip into. 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing 📚 2y
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Mindyrecycles
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Pickpick
Eggs 👏🏻❤️‍🩹📚 3y
49 likes2 comments
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ONH
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Fully unable to fathom why this only has a 50% rating. One of the best poetry collections I have ever read. To think that he was only 20 when he wrote it 😩 The mastery of language and inert understanding of being in love AND losing love somehow translate into English incredibly well and for that I‘m convinced that Neruda was a genius.

“I want to do with you / what spring does to the cherry blossoms.” 🌸🥺

AutumnRLS This is my favorite book of poetry. It's brilliant. 3y
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kaysworld1
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Hello everybody both of my library holds have came in so I'm reading this one first so far I am loving it so far, I do poetry every now and then but it has really by different poetry.

Updated on life: Fully moved in and loving my house and job. University is up and in full swing and I have to admit I love it but it is hard. Keep fighting ❤️🤙🥰 #readingthelibrary #keepreading #librarybooks

youneverarrived Glad all is going well 😘 5y
kaysworld1 @youneverarrived Thank you so much, Your moving as well ain't you? How's yours going xx 5y
youneverarrived Yeah I‘ve been here a week and pretty much all sorted just need a few bits and pieces x 5y
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danimgill
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Pickpick

I've decided to make it a Valentine's tradition to read a book of love poems on the day and this was my 2020 pick for no deeper reason than it has 20 in the title 😂

It was a pretty good collection, some poems stronger than others, and I liked that it had bilingual facing pages for each poem. Nowhere near being able to read poetry fully in Spanish but it was nice to practice.

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GatheringBooks
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Lkardos12
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“Love is so short, forgetting is so long.” Third book finished in #24in48, nice little break with some poetry! 😪

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ReclusiveHermit
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Pickpick

Tonight i can write the saddest lines.

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erzascarletbookgasm
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Sharing my favourite poem from the book..

madamereadsalot1 I love Pablo! 6y
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Mehso-so

This collection of poems apparently are Neruda‘s most beloved - romantic poems of love and pain, expressed in much intimacy and in a brazen way. I like a few better than the others and my favourite was Tonight I Can Write.

kristincatastrophic Tonight I Can Write is my favorite too. It's probably my favorite poem ever 6y
Cathythoughts ♥️♥️♥️ 6y
79 likes3 comments
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zsuzsanna_reads
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20 things about me (and I managed to find the title of a book I like with the word twenty in it!)

Nominated by @merelybookish. I am nominating the last 5 people I followed who haven't seen to have done this yet to say hello: @Sassenach1 @Gissy @sixgun @EliseJames @blamethestardust

(Sorry, @Literaturenut I saw you posted this already, but hello anyway!)

#twentythings #twentythingsaboutme

Literaturenut 🙋‍♀️ 6y
Susanita I love the spelling of your name. 6y
Erofan I like opera too! And ballet! 6y
BookmarkTavern Thanks for the tag! 6y
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NaomiO
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"Tonight I Can Write" my favourite poem from Pablo Neruda. So very beautiful.

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erzascarletbookgasm
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These poems contain much tenderness of love and the power of passion. I plan to read more poems this year, too.

#musicalnewyear #seasonsoflove
#anewchapter #newbeginnings

vkois88 Sounds like a plan! 6y
TiredLibrarian I agree; for a long time I forgot how much I love poetry. And I should give this a re-read, too - great stuff. 💜 6y
vivastory Ah, I love Neruda! Definitely wrote some of my favorite poetry, I really like his 6y
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BarbaraBB Echoing @vivastory , I ❤️ Neruda! 6y
Cathythoughts Yes ! Agree ! Pablo Neruda ♥️♥️♥️ 6y
Lalaomi Oh. I read this book. In my opinion one of his finest job.! Good pick 👍🏽 6y
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Matilda
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#riotgrams feb 19: favorite school reads

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Cathythoughts
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#FierceFeb #Cheerleader Everyday you Play
How you must have suffered getting accustomed to me my savage solitary soul

My words rained over you
A long time I have loved the sunned mother of pearl of your body
I go so far as to think that you own the universe
I will bring you happy flowers from the mountains, bluebells
Dark hazels & rustic baskets of kisses
I want
to do with you what the spring does with the cherry trees
👇🏻

Cathythoughts 👇🏻I‘m going out a on a limb here , to say that the cherry blossoms are the cheerleaders of spring. That‘s our cherry blossom tree behind the book, you won‘t know it , by April it will be bursting with blossoms ✨ (edited) 7y
batsy I love it when you go out on a limb!! Beautiful interpretation and one I did not expect to see for cheerleader 👏🏽💕🌸 7y
Cinfhen There's something magical about cherry blossoms!!! I miss my trees 😫🌸🌸🌸🌸 7y
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TrishB Great interpretation! 7y
Cathythoughts @batsy @Cinfhen @TrishB Thankyou Ladies, there is something magical about those blossoms alright. Have a lovely weekend 💓 7y
TrishB I have one outside my window in work! I shall post when it blooms - it‘s lovely 💕 7y
Cathythoughts @TrishB great !! I‘ll post mine too 👍🏻👍🏻💕 7y
erzascarletbookgasm Good interpretation. 💫 Cherry blossoms are so pretty. So nice to have them in your garden. I had to travel to Japan to see them in full bloom a few springs ago. 🌸 7y
Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm that must have been quite a sight in Japan 💕💕💕 7y
erzascarletbookgasm It was so lovely, Cathy. I‘m planning to go back there 😊. On a different note, have you received a package that I‘ve sent you? 7y
Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm I havnt received it yet. But don‘t worry , as the post takes awhile to get here. I‘m looking forward to it. I sent mine 2 weeks ago yesterday, so hopefully it will arrive to you soon. ❤️ (edited) 7y
erzascarletbookgasm 😀 Looking forward to it 😊💕 7y
DeborahSmall I love Neruda ❤️ 7y
Cathythoughts @DeborahSmall me too ! John is playing in the Duncairn in Belfast tonight, I had an appointment with my daughter,so I can‘t go. One of these days!!! We will make a Litsy get together, 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💓 7y
DeborahSmall No way!! The Duncairn is in North Belfast, The New Lodge, where Stephen and both parents were born. I‘m sure it will have an amazing atmosphere xx 7y
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Cathythoughts
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#FierceFeb #IsThisDesire From We Have Lost Eden , Pablo Neruda....

I have seen from my window
The fiesta of sunset in the distant mountain tops
I remembered you with my soul clenched
In that sadness of mine that you know

Where were you then?
Who else was there?
Saying what?
Why will the whole of love come on me suddenly
When I am sad and feel you are far away ?

batsy Love this post. Beautiful poem, beautiful picture. Ah, Neruda 💞 7y
Cathythoughts @batsy 💔💞💞💞 (edited) 7y
Cinfhen EVERYTHING @batsy said 💋🙌🏻 7y
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TrishB Awesome ❤️ 7y
Centique 😍😍😍 7y
Reggie 😢 7y
Cathythoughts @Cinfhen 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 7y
Cathythoughts @TrishB ❤️❤️❤️ 7y
Cathythoughts @Centique 👍🏻💞💞 7y
Cathythoughts Me too @Reggie 😭😭😭 7y
erzascarletbookgasm ❤️💫 but 😢. 7y
Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm I know ! As I wrote it out I had tears in my eyes. Beautiful 💞 7y
MayJasper Stop it 😢😢😢 7y
Cathythoughts @MayJasper I know 😭, ❤️❤️❤️ 7y
MayJasper I love your pic 😧 7y
Cathythoughts @MayJasper 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 7y
LeahBergen Love! 💕💕 7y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen 💞💞💞 7y
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Broke_Girl_Reads
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I no longer love her, that‘s certain, but maybe I love her. #poetrychallenge2018

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Broke_Girl_Reads
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Finally getting started with #poetrychallenge2018 ! I read some Neruda in high school, and always meant to check out more of his work. I‘m glad this challenge motivated me to finally do it!

kgriffith I didn‘t know there‘s a challenge — I‘m taking a poetry course this semester! 7y
Broke_Girl_Reads @kgriffith @Natasha.C.Barnes is hosting! We‘re picking a different poet for each month and reading and sharing some of their work 7y
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WordyForever
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Mehso-so

Some poems better than others (he‘s really into breasts and the word “moist”) but I didn‘t like any of them as much as I Do Not Love You, which isn‘t in this book.

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Brie
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BarbaraBB Love Neruda 💜 7y
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DeborahSmall
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#twenty #Novemberbythenumbers a few choices today but this is my favourite ❤️📚

LeahBergen I have that exact edition! ❤️ 7y
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claffy_reads
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One of my favorite books of poetry. 😍😍
#NovemberbytheNumbers
@JoeStalksBeck @Tiffy_Reads

MayJasper I wish I could make a start on poetry 7y
claffy_reads @MayJasper It's not for everyone. But, if you're looking to dip a toe in, I'd recommend Billy Collins. His work feels so unpretentious and real that you almost forget you're reading poetry! And he is very funny. Questions About Angels was my first introduction, and I've loved him ever since. 7y
MayJasper Oh wow @callielafleur thanks for your recommendation. I will give Billy Collins a go 😊 7y
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youneverarrived
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I think this whole poem is #bittersweet
#quotsynov17

Cathythoughts ❤️beautiful 7y
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busyreading
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Pickpick

These are my favourite set of poems. Pablo Neruda has ruined me for life.

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Brie
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Thanks, @jdtchicago
This was hard to pick! My Dead Poets Society:
1. Langston Hughes
2. Emily Dickinson
3. Maya Angelou
4. Sylvia Plath
5. Pablo Neruda
#dps5

Graciouswarriorprincess Great choices!👍🏻😉 7y
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GoneFishing

Tonight I can write the saddest lines
I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too.

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gibblr
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Mehso-so

Done with these five for the start of #24in48. There were a few I liked in each, but overall I could take them or leave them. I think I am officially poemed out!!

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ladygrey
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pablo neruda //

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Read-eat-travel-repeat
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We visited La Chascona today, the house Pablo Neruda built with his third wife, Matilde. They had quite a variety of art from around the world. He was a fascinating figure - in addition to winning the Nobel prize in literature, he was also very politically active in Chile. #pabloneruda #nobel #poetry

ScientistSam Is that the one in Santiago? It's really cool! 8y
Read-eat-travel-repeat @ScientistSam Yes! We also saw his house in Valparaiso, La Sebastiana, but it was closed so we could only view the outside. 8y
LeahBergen 😍😍😍 8y
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Anescapewithinthepages
Pickpick

Neruda is by far one of the most talented poets to date. All you can do is read in awe of his beautiful and perfect phrasing and word choice. 💕💕💕

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eva_lution
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"A veces amanezco, y hasta mi alma está húmeda./Sometimes I get up early and even my soul is wet."
This might be a slight stretch for #booktober Day 2: "Set in South America," but this is my beloved copy of Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair, borrowed from my first romance and never returned. Its pages are loose and it was already secondhand when I nicked it, dedicated with love from one stranger to another. @RealLifeReading

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unika

But my words become stained with your love.
You occupy everything, you occupy everything.
(from "So That You Will Hear Me")

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unika

My life grows tired, hungry to no purpose.
I love what I do not have. You are so far.
My loathing wrestles with the slow twilights.
But night comes and starts to sing to me.
(from "Here I Love You")

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unika
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I ordered an actual physical book. There was no ebook version of this edition and I love this translation.

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coffeeandchaos
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I want to do to you what spring does to the cherry trees. 🌸

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ramyasbookshelf
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I was surprised to see this poem here. Neruda paraphrases one of the poems by Rabindranath Tagore. Two of my all time favorite poets.. "Huntress of the depths of my eyes, your plunder stills your nocturnal regard as though it were water."

GatheringBooks my absolute favourites as well :) 8y
ramyasbookshelf @GatheringBooks aren't they amazing? Sigh! I grew up reading Tagore's works and discovered Neruda recently. 8y
GatheringBooks @ramyasbookshelf i discovered both at the same time when I was in grad school (ages ago) - a kindred who was very much into poetry used to read their poems aloud to me. they were precious to me because we hardly had access to these books in the philippines back then. now i have more than i can handle here in singapore. :) 8y
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Dragon I love that poem especially the last line. Thanks for introducing me to this poet. I'm going to read more 8y
MrBook Oh my. We share similar poetical tastes then 😎👍🏻🙌🏻! #KindredSpirits 8y
ramyasbookshelf @Dragon Rabindranath Tagore is India's pride and joy. The only Indian to get a Nobel Prize for literature. I love his poetry.. 8y
LeahBergen I love Neruda but haven't read any Tagore. I will now! ❤️ 8y
ramyasbookshelf @MrBook are you serious?? That's so awesome! 8y
ramyasbookshelf @LeahBergen you should definitely give it a shot. Tagore's romance lacks the passion of Neruda's but there's an intensity to it that's comparable.. :) 8y
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Anescapewithinthepages
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Neruda understands more about the break then the heart itself. He leaves me breathless.

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LeahBergen
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Pickpick

Day 19. A few people posted about Pablo Neruda today and it's reminded me just how much I like his work. This is a bit from his poem "Every Day You Play". Lovely, don't you think? #poetry #augustofpages @TheSpinecrackersBookClub

Bibliogeekery I love this poem!!! Every year I revisit this one when the cherry blossoms bloom. That has to be one of the sexiest lines in a poem ever! Thanks for reminding me of it outside of the spring! 8y
LeahBergen I know! It's a steamy one, isn't it @Bibliogeekery ?? 8y
Bibliogeekery Definitely! 🌸💋💗 8y
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Anescapewithinthepages
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Pablo Neruda - Leaning Into The Afternoons