If You Forget Me!

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By Pablo Neruda

“I would like to bid farewell to the old year by sharing a great poem by Pablo Neruda since this is my last post for the year. I know that some of my friends share posts daily or a few even hourly, but I do not have that much free time. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy New Year’s Eve and a healthy new year.” Viva Freedom!πŸ™πŸ€—πŸ’–

Benito Cerna, 1960 ~ Figurative painter

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.

34 thoughts on “If You Forget Me!

  1. Such a beautiful poem and song, thank you Aladin. Two lines really stood out for me, one from the poem above, the other from Leonard’s song … “my love feeds on your love” and “a man working for your smile” … such joy to my heart! Wishing you and yours, a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year my dear friend, love and light, Deborah.

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  2. elainemansfield

    Vic and I loved Neruda and sometimes read his poems to each other. Our love is still strong 16 years after Vic’s death. It strengthens me to remember we loved with such intensity and compassion. Thanks again, Aladin.

    Liked by 1 person

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