Pablo Neruda (1904)

Born in Chile as Neftalí Ricardo Reyes Basoalto, Neruda began writing poetry at age 10, published his most popular work, Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair, at 20, and was later awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. A surrealist, he revitalized everyday expressions and employed bold metaphors in free verse. In his writings and his political career as a leader of the Chilean Communist party and as a diplomat, he exerted a wide influence in Latin America. Why did he use a pen name? More...

This is one of the most famous Neruda´s poem.

Me gustas cuando callas, porque estás como ausente


I like you calm, as if you were absent,
and you hear me far-off, and my voice does not touch you.
It seems that your eyes have taken to flying
It seems that a kiss has sealed up your mouth.
Since all these things are filled with my spirit,
You come from things, filled with my spirit,
You appear as my soul, as the butterfly´s dreaming,
You appear as Melancholy´s word.
I like you calm, as if you were distant,
You are a moaning, a butterfly´s cooing.
You hear me far-off, my voice does not reach you.
Let me be calmed, then, calmed by your silence,
Let me commune,then ,commune with your silence,
clear as light,and pure as ring.
You are light night, calmed, constellated.
your silence is star-like,as distant, as true.
I like your calm, as if you were absent;
distant and distressing , as if you were dead.
One word at that moment, a smile is sufficient.
And I thrill, then I thrill: that it cannot be true.