by Pablo Neruda
By night, Love, tie your heart to mine, and the two
together in their sleep will defeat the darkness
like a double drum in the forest, pounding
against the thick wall of wet leaves.
Night travel: black flame of sleep
that cuts the threads of earthly orbs,
punctual as a headlong train that pulls
cold stone and shadow, endlessly.
Because of this, Love, tie me to a purer motion,
to the constancy that beats in your chest
with the wings of a submerged swan,
So that our sleep might reply to the sky’s
questioning stars with a single key,
with a single door the shadows had closed.
Embrace, Egon Schiele, 1917
I think that love has become unfashionable — a cliche, particularly in an art world that seems to particularly value the novel and clever. Yet I walk through the Public Gardens and still see couples with their bridal parties having their wedding photos taken — and there are always people on the subway who abandon their cell phones long enough to make out. (Of course, that may be lust — but who’s picky?)
I think you may be on to something here, Claudia
Something that still makes the world go round.
Bill,
If I may borrow a quote from John Lennon, “Love is the answer”
Thanks so much for your wonderful comments!
Claudia
Pablo & Egon…nothing more need be said.
Rob, agreed!
Thanks
Claudia
No one says it like Pablo Neruda …
Love the Schiele too – a perfect pairing