A Repeat (c) Sophie
strange. he used to show me the links to trucks and beetles, and now you're doing the same -- except your reasons are far different than his, but still, wanting to entertain me. i'm currently working on my '43 things', and i want to include you on the list, let's wait and see. outlining the advantages and disadvantages of being with you was wicked funny when i finally put it on paper. we both dismissed it. i, for the reason it was too hilarious to dwell upon, and you, for some other reason i may never know. you said so yourself, you're "as calm as a corpse." isn't it crazy? you're calm, i'm passionate; i'm restless, you're stable; you're focused, i'm flighty and so on and so forth... yet, we tolerate each other so perfectly. i guess because we let each other breathe and grow. i'm happy.
I want you to know
one thing.
You know how this is: if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.
Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.
If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.
If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.
But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.
-- Pablo Neruda
since 2004.10