I do not love you...

                                                                      -written by Pablo Neruda

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,

or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.

I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,

in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms

but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;

thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,

risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.

I love you straghtforwardly, without complexities or pride;

so I love you because I know no other way than this;

where does not exist, nor you,

so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,

so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

       ***Someday when I meet you, I will recite this poem for you...