Neruda's Poetry: Leaning into the Afternoons

I have to confess, I have been working long hours again and that combined with an inclination to be out and about rather than inside blogging, means I dipped into my net of half written blogs/blog ideas to churn out today's offering.   As you know I love Neruda's poetry and I have still a bunch in my bag, waiting for an appropriate time to share them without risking all but poetry junkies abandoning my blog.  :)

Following is another of Neruda's poems, this one Poem VII from 20 Love Poems and a Song of Despair, which was written in his early years.  It speaks more of the absence of love and the unhappiness that can come from from "absent eyes".  For a more lengthy analysis go here to find Bookstove's analysis of this poem.   If you want to dive into some of my other blogs and about Neruda and read/hear more of his poetry go here.



Leaning Into The Afternoons

Leaning into the afternoons I cast my sad nets
towards your oceanic eyes.

There in the highest blaze my solitude lengthens and flames,
its arms turning like a drowning man's.

I send out red signals across your absent eyes
that smell like the sea or the beach by a lighthouse.

You keep only darkness, my distant female,
from your regard sometimes the coast of dread emerges.

Leaning into the afternoons I fling my sad nets
to that sea that is thrashed by your oceanic eyes.

The birds of night peck at the first stars
that flash like my soul when I love you.

The night gallops on its shadowy mare
shedding blue tassels over the land.