Mansoor's review
The Captain's Verses by Pablo Neruda
This is one of Neruda's collections of love poetry, as opposed to his political work. It was my first reading of Neruda's writing, and I was floored. At nineteen, I wasn't big on love poetry because I found it maudlin. But, the poems of The Captain's Verses seem like they can be spoken by a man without a significant reduction in masculinity.
The edition I have presents the Spanish version on one page, and the English translation on the facing page. Even with my meager Spanish skills, I was able to read parts of the originals and realize they are much better than their translation.
My favorites: La Reina (“The Queen”) and Tu Risa (“Your Laughter”).
Young men should read it as a how-to guide before wooing young ladies, but beware the consequences (I'm now married).
The edition I have presents the Spanish version on one page, and the English translation on the facing page. Even with my meager Spanish skills, I was able to read parts of the originals and realize they are much better than their translation.
My favorites: La Reina (“The Queen”) and Tu Risa (“Your Laughter”).
Young men should read it as a how-to guide before wooing young ladies, but beware the consequences (I'm now married).
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