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From Publishers Weekly
This collection of poems, first published by Neruda at the age of 19 in 1924, caused something of a scandal because of its frank and intense sexuality: "I have gone marking the atlas of your body / with crosses of fire. / My mouth went across: a spider, trying to hide. / In you, behind you, timid, driven by thirst." It later became one of Neruda's best-loved works, selling two million copies by the 1960s. Why? With image after arresting image, Neruda charts the oceanic movements of passion, repeatedly summoning imagery of the sea and weather: "On all sides I see your waist of fog, / and your silence hunts down my afflicted hours; / my kisses anchor, and my moist desire nests / in you with your arms of transparent stone." As irresistible as the sea, love is engulfing ("You swallowed everything, like distance. / . . . In you everything sank!"), but also departs as mysteriously as it arrived, leaving the poet's heart a "pit of debris, fierce cave of the shipwrecked." These unabashedly romantic poems, wonderfully translated by Merwin, are illustrated in this edition by the paintings of Jan Thompson Dicks with aptly Fauvist tones and iconic formality.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"His passionate utterance [is] reckoned among the glories of the Spanish tongue".
-- THE NATION, 1973 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
desire and longing,
By NotATameLion (Michigan) - See all my reviews
This review is from: 20th Century Twenty Love Poems (Mass Market Paperback)
I am a newcomer to the poetry of Pablo Neruda. "Twenty Poems and a Song of Despair" is simply one of the best volumes of poetry I have ever read. What a vast horizon opened up to me when I picked up this book! Rarely have I encountered a poet that so palpably evokes longing. Few other poets have Neruda's ability to weave images. These poems burrow into the heart. My Spanish is not what it should be, but I was able to read most of the poetry here in the original. For those who know no Spanish, do not be deterred. This volume is the work of not just one but two masterful poets. Merwin's translations are amazing and wholly recommendable. Striking images and a yearning spirit fill the English translations as well as Neruda's originals. I was also caught off guard by poem XVI. I was reading along, thinking how I had not read poetry this full of longing and desire since I last read Tagore's "Gitanjali" ..., when lo and behold, Poem XVI is a Spanish paraphrase of a Tagore poem...small world. Neruda's poems are of filled with a powerful Eros. Yet, to me, they fall a little short in comparison to those of Tagore (whose love is a spiritual longing). However, the comparison is clearly between two giants of the art. I give "Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair" a strong recommendation.
5.0 out of 5 stars
In one word - Beautiful,
By Juliette Westbrook-Finch author of "The P... (Great Britain) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair: Dual-Language Edition (Paperback)
I am a huge fan of Pablo's I have 7 of his books and find his breathtaking way with words beautiful. I love poetry but am very fussy about what I like as some poetry can be boring but Pablo's is wonderful. He is a huge inspiration to me.This book is in English and Spanish, set out so that the Spanish version of the poem is on the left hand page and the English translatiomn is on the right. (very handy if you're learning Spanish!) You will find yourself lingering over his poetry as it creates beautiful images in your mind, it's very romantic and sensual. With lines like "Leaning into the afternoons I cast my sad nets towards your oceanic eyes" and "The light wraps you in its mortal flame" his descriptions and his way with words are wonderful. I highly recommend his love poetry and this is one of my favourites of his, as well as "love poems" Love Poems Review by Juliette Westbrook-Finch, author of "The Poetry of Passion (for People with a Pulse)"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Poetry, very romantic, Pablo is a Master of his craft.,
By An Avid Reader (UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair: Dual-Language Edition (Paperback)
This is a wonderful romantic poetry book, Pablo has a way with words that gives you images in your mind and you'll forget everything else around you as you're absorbed into the dream world he has created in your mind.It is a dual language book having each poem in English and Spanish; it only contains 21 poems but they are of the highest quality and you will be left wanting to read more of his books! I highly recommend it and if you enjoyed this you will also like his "100 Love Sonnets" and his "Love Poems" Another book that contains sensual poems but also has humerous poems in it too is "The Poetry of Passion (for People with a Pulse)" by Juliette Westbrook-Finch, I also recommend that, very different in that it all rhymes but if you like love poetry you'll love that too. The Poetry of Passion (for People with a Pulse) Love Poems 100 Love Sonnets: Cien sonetos de amor
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