I've always been intrigued by "Now I’ll count up to twelve and you keep quiet and I will go." To me, deep profundity, mystery and emotional resonance emanate from these 14 words. My mind wonders:
Why 12 and not 10? Perhaps 12 evokes the completion of cycles (12 months, 12 hours of day and night, 12 signs of Zodiac) or order/wisdom/justice (12 disciples, 12 imams, 12-person juries, 12 tablets of Roman Law).
Why does he go? Perhaps by departing, he empowers others to engage with the silence and stillness independently, no longer relying on his guidance. Or, perhaps a metaphor for death and impermanence of life, or an act of humility and (Buddhist) detachment.
To me, it encapsulates the meaning and feeling of the poem. It conjures non-attachment, impermanence, mortality, cyclicality/regeneration, the teacher/guide fulfilling his/her mission and moving on after contributing to the student's embrace of stillness and silence, and the realizations which they yield.
Of course, Neruda's 14 words convey much, much more than those I just wrote. And, more concisely and beautifully than those of which I'm capable.
Love this poem, makes me cry, his ideas so good, his words so soft.
Bob,
Larry & I have 2 sons, Sam, Ft Collins, CO & Jack LIVES in Inwood, (got married this morning at NYCCity Hall — a surprise as I am in Colorado. I am on an iPad & never used one,forgive egregious errors.
We are going through Larry’s material life and found art, including a photo by Walter Chappell called “Metaflora”. I am locked out of Facebook until I get home from Colorado.
May I email the image to you? — reginekelly(at)gmail(dot)com
I've always loved this poem. ❤️
Me, too.
I've always been intrigued by "Now I’ll count up to twelve and you keep quiet and I will go." To me, deep profundity, mystery and emotional resonance emanate from these 14 words. My mind wonders:
Why 12 and not 10? Perhaps 12 evokes the completion of cycles (12 months, 12 hours of day and night, 12 signs of Zodiac) or order/wisdom/justice (12 disciples, 12 imams, 12-person juries, 12 tablets of Roman Law).
Why does he go? Perhaps by departing, he empowers others to engage with the silence and stillness independently, no longer relying on his guidance. Or, perhaps a metaphor for death and impermanence of life, or an act of humility and (Buddhist) detachment.
To me, it encapsulates the meaning and feeling of the poem. It conjures non-attachment, impermanence, mortality, cyclicality/regeneration, the teacher/guide fulfilling his/her mission and moving on after contributing to the student's embrace of stillness and silence, and the realizations which they yield.
Of course, Neruda's 14 words convey much, much more than those I just wrote. And, more concisely and beautifully than those of which I'm capable.
Thank you, Robert, for translating and sharing.
¡Qué fotaza!!, me encanta. Me sorprendió este poema de Neruda, no lo conocía, y me gusta. No es habitual en él este estilo.
Love you both Robert and Joan. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Beautiful poem, thank you for sharing it. This part felt particularly personally relevant:
"If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
could interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death."
Probably relevant to most of us, Sergej.
There is a stillness in reading this poem. Thank you for sharing Robert 🙌
Thanks. We shall see. It was in with a rather strange Gersh.
Do you think we should get it appraised?
It could be worth something to a collector. I don't know about the market for Walter's work.
Nah, neither do I. Thanks.
I love this. Thank you. 🕊️
27 December 2024
Love this poem, makes me cry, his ideas so good, his words so soft.
Bob,
Larry & I have 2 sons, Sam, Ft Collins, CO & Jack LIVES in Inwood, (got married this morning at NYCCity Hall — a surprise as I am in Colorado. I am on an iPad & never used one,forgive egregious errors.
We are going through Larry’s material life and found art, including a photo by Walter Chappell called “Metaflora”. I am locked out of Facebook until I get home from Colorado.
May I email the image to you? — reginekelly(at)gmail(dot)com
Pax, regine
I have a print of that one, Regina. Thanks for thinking of me.
And yes, this poem is incredibly moving to me too.
I read your translation at dinner tonight.
I was asked to read it twice.
Beautiful. ☮️