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51st out of 190 books
—
58 voters
On the Blue Shore of Silence: Poems of the Sea
On the Blue Shore of Silence celebrates the centenary of the birth of Pablo Neruda, one of the most widely read and best-loved poets of the twentieth century.
Although anthologies of Neruda's works abound, On the Blue Shore of Silence is the first to collect some of his poems on the sea. At times passionate and at other times peaceful, the poems chosen for this collection -...more
Although anthologies of Neruda's works abound, On the Blue Shore of Silence is the first to collect some of his poems on the sea. At times passionate and at other times peaceful, the poems chosen for this collection -...more
Hardcover, 80 pages
Published
February 3rd 2004
by Rayo
(first published January 31st 2004)
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This collection of 12 poems highlights Neruda's love of the sea and its influence on his work. Over half of his poetry was penned at his whimsically named home on the Pacific, Isla Negra, and while most of his work doesn't contain oceanic themes - the power of this Muse can be seen consistently in his beautiful poetry.
Several of the past dozen or so novels I've read made me think of Neruda. Here is a porrtion of his poem "Forget About Me" that could be reflections on Railsea, Pan or even a bit o...more
Several of the past dozen or so novels I've read made me think of Neruda. Here is a porrtion of his poem "Forget About Me" that could be reflections on Railsea, Pan or even a bit o...more
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This is an amazing book. It is a collection of Nerudas poems about the sea. There are paintings that an artist made just for each poem. If you love the ocean, you will love this book. Pablo describes like no other. It also has the original Spanish alongside the English.
I just found this book, of all things, half-priced at a Borders going out of business. What a glorious discovery! All sea-related poems in English and Spanish with accompanying artwork. A wonderful book that I'll read over and over again.
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It was passed from one bird to another,
the whole gift of the day.
The day went from flute to flute,
went dressed in vegetation,
in flights which opened a tunnel
through the wind would pass
to where birds were breaking open
the dense blue air -
and there, night came in.
When I returned from so many journeys,
I stayed suspended and green
between sun and geography -
I saw how wings worked,
how perfumes are transmitted
by feathery telegraph,
and from above I saw the path,
the springs and the roof tiles,
the fisherm...more
the whole gift of the day.
The day went from flute to flute,
went dressed in vegetation,
in flights which opened a tunnel
through the wind would pass
to where birds were breaking open
the dense blue air -
and there, night came in.
When I returned from so many journeys,
I stayed suspended and green
between sun and geography -
I saw how wings worked,
how perfumes are transmitted
by feathery telegraph,
and from above I saw the path,
the springs and the roof tiles,
the fisherm...more
Pablo Neruda is one of my favorite poets. I also really love a collection of his titled Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair.
So much of the time, I think that writers and poets speak better for themselves than any silly review that I could ever write.
"Let us look for secret things somewhere in the world, on the blue shore of silence or where the storm has passed, rampaging like a train." -- Forget About Me
So much of the time, I think that writers and poets speak better for themselves than any silly review that I could ever write.
"Let us look for secret things somewhere in the world, on the blue shore of silence or where the storm has passed, rampaging like a train." -- Forget About Me
I'm not really much of a poetry reader; I stumbled across this book while looking for different one and it looked interesting. It's a dozen Neruda poems about the sea accompanied by paintings based on the Neruda poems. The paintings were less satisfying to me than the poems. Neruda lived in Chile high above the Pacific Ocean, and it was natural that the images of the sea would become part of his poetry.
The Soliloquy of the Waves
Yes, but here I am alone.
A wave
builds up,
perhaps it says its name, I don’t understand,
it mutters, humps in its load
of movement and foam
and withdraws. Who
can I ask what it said to me?
Who among the waves can I name?
And I wait.
Once again the clearness approached,
the soft numbers
rose in foam
and I didn’t know what to call them.
So they whispered away,
seeped into the mouth of the sand.
Time obliterated all lips
with the patience of shadow and
the orange kiss
of summer.
I stayed alo...more
Yes, but here I am alone.
A wave
builds up,
perhaps it says its name, I don’t understand,
it mutters, humps in its load
of movement and foam
and withdraws. Who
can I ask what it said to me?
Who among the waves can I name?
And I wait.
Once again the clearness approached,
the soft numbers
rose in foam
and I didn’t know what to call them.
So they whispered away,
seeped into the mouth of the sand.
Time obliterated all lips
with the patience of shadow and
the orange kiss
of summer.
I stayed alo...more
May 05, 2010
Buzz Evers
added it
Resonated with my sense of being On the Blue Shore of Absence based on my custody battle for my wonderful son, Jesse Dylan. Added emotions derived from the fact my mother's ashes were scattered over the waters in So. Cal, the overall impact left me pondering the significance of each.
A window into Neruda's Chilean soul, trapped between the Andes and the Pacific, one that craves constant movement, and yet yearns for a home. Beautiful and invigorating.
My favorite poem is Fiesta's End Stanza XII.
My favorite poem is Fiesta's End Stanza XII.
From "The Poet's Obligation" -- page 45
"So, through me, freedom and the sea
will call in answer to the shrouded heart."
"So, through me, freedom and the sea
will call in answer to the shrouded heart."
The most {physically and spiritually} beautiful Neruda book I have found, a most wonderful addition to any library.
I wish I knew enough to read him in the original.
However, the English translations were beautiful.
However, the English translations were beautiful.
Beautiful Beautiful Poetry! Calming and passionate and introspective. A great read for anyone really.
ok, so this is the story. I saw this book at Barnes and Noble and it was a little pricey. But everytime we went there I would grab it and sit on a couch and read the poems. Shane finally got it for me and Oh my goodness. That is me! Ocean ,sand, poems, Chile, Neruda. I read it and even if it is a dark cold winter snowy night in Utah I can transport myself to Isla Negra and feel the warmth of the sun , the smell of the ocean, hear the waves. I am there in my dreams. If I feel blue...that is what...more
so beautiful... one of my top ten poem books....
such, concise, powerful verses
The waves keep up their song/and although the sea has many hands,/many mouths and many kisses,/no hand reaches out to you,/no mouth kisses you;/ and you soon must realize/what a feeble thing you are./By now we thought we were friends,/we come back with open arms,/and here is the ea, dancing away,/not bothering with us.
Aug 08, 2007
Laurel
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who loves poetry, pablo neruda, or the sea
I'd give the poems 5+ stars, but the art work is not my style, so 4 stars.
These poems are gorgeous. I'm such a sucker: some of these poems make me cry, even though I've read them many times before, I still cry. I am amazed how he puts words to the things I have always found to be beyond words.
These poems are gorgeous. I'm such a sucker: some of these poems make me cry, even though I've read them many times before, I still cry. I am amazed how he puts words to the things I have always found to be beyond words.
this was a gift you should give someone you love...it is a piece of art, it will transport you, both the watercolor drawings and the accompanying poems will carry to other worlds,they speak in seductive tongues, in the original Spanish they will lull you to sleep, cause you to forget...
I love Pablo Neruda's poetry and came across this book in a store recently. It was translated by Alastair Reid and is a beautiful collection of Neruda's poems about the sea as well as watercolors by Mary Heebner.
A beautiful book by my favorite poet that was a gift from my closest friends. A treasure that sits proudly on my bookshelves.
My favorite collection of poems yet. Beautiful depiction of lives at sea. Spanish and English translations, with some illustration.
See my blog post on it:
http://gypsylibrarian.blogspot.com/20...
http://gypsylibrarian.blogspot.com/20...
Short collection of poems by Neruda about the sea. Perfect topic for his dreamy style of imagery.
i love the way his words flow, but i wish i knew spanish
pablo we love you for ever
beautiful book
Jun 16, 2013
Em
marked it as to-read
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Pablo Neruda was the pen name and, later, legal name of the Chilean writer and politician Neftalí Ricardo Reyes Basoalto. Neruda assumed his pen name as a teenager, partly because it was in vogue, partly to hide his poetry from his father, a rigid man who wanted his son to have a "practical" occupation. Neruda's pen name was derived from Czech writer and poet Jan Neruda; Pablo is thought to be fro...more
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“I need the sea because it teaches me”
—
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