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The Hands of Day
Pablo Neruda is one of the world’s great poets, and Copper Canyon Press has long been dedicated to publishing translations of his work in bilingual editions. The Hands of Day —at long last translated into English in its entirety—pronounces Neruda’s desire to take part in the great human making of the day. Moved by the guilt of never having worked with his hands, Neruda opens with the despairing confession, “Why did I not make a broom? / Why was I given hands at all?” The themes of hands and work grow in significance as Neruda celebrates the carpenters, longshoremen, blacksmiths, and bakers—those laborers he admires most—and shares his exuberant adoration for the earth and the people upon it. Yes, I am guilty
of what I did not do,
of what I did not sow, did not cut, did not measure,
of never having rallied myself to populate lands,
of having sustained myself in the deserts
and of my voice speaking with the sand. Pablo Neruda (1904–1973) was a Chilean poet and diplomat who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1971. Recognized during his life as “a people’s poet,” he is considered one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century. William O’Daly is the best-selling translator of six of Pablo Neruda’s books, including The Book of Questions and The Sea and the Bells . His work as a translator has been featured on The Today Show .
of what I did not do,
of what I did not sow, did not cut, did not measure,
of never having rallied myself to populate lands,
of having sustained myself in the deserts
and of my voice speaking with the sand. Pablo Neruda (1904–1973) was a Chilean poet and diplomat who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1971. Recognized during his life as “a people’s poet,” he is considered one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century. William O’Daly is the best-selling translator of six of Pablo Neruda’s books, including The Book of Questions and The Sea and the Bells . His work as a translator has been featured on The Today Show .
- GenresPoetrySpanish Literature
200 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2008
15 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Pablo Neruda
1,082 books9,632 followersPablo Neruda, born Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto in 1904 in Parral, Chile, was a poet, diplomat, and politician, widely considered one of the most influential literary figures of the 20th century. From an early age, he showed a deep passion for poetry, publishing his first works as a teenager. He adopted the pen name Pablo Neruda to avoid disapproval from his father, who discouraged his literary ambitions. His breakthrough came with Veinte poemas de amor y una canción desesperada (Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair, 1924), a collection of deeply emotional and sensual poetry that gained international recognition and remains one of his most celebrated works.
Neruda’s career took him beyond literature into diplomacy, a path that allowed him to travel extensively and engage with political movements around the world. Beginning in 1927, he served in various consular posts in Asia and later in Spain, where he witnessed the Spanish Civil War and became an outspoken advocate for the Republican cause. His experiences led him to embrace communism, a commitment that would shape much of his later poetry and political activism. His collection España en el corazón (Spain in Our Hearts, 1937) reflected his deep sorrow over the war and marked a shift toward politically engaged writing.
Returning to Chile, he was elected to the Senate in 1945 as a member of the Communist Party. However, his vocal opposition to the repressive policies of President Gabriel Gonzalez Videla led to his exile. During this period, he traveled through various countries, including Argentina, Mexico, and the Soviet Union, further cementing his status as a global literary and political figure. It was during these years that he wrote Canto General (1950), an epic work chronicling Latin American history and the struggles of its people.
Neruda’s return to Chile in 1952 marked a new phase in his life, balancing political activity with a prolific literary output. He remained a staunch supporter of socialist ideals and later developed a close relationship with Salvador Allende, who appointed him as Chile’s ambassador to France in 1970. The following year, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, recognized for the scope and impact of his poetry. His later years were marked by illness, and he died in 1973, just days after the military coup that overthrew Allende. His legacy endures, not only in his vast body of work but also in his influence on literature, political thought, and the cultural identity of Latin America.
Neruda’s career took him beyond literature into diplomacy, a path that allowed him to travel extensively and engage with political movements around the world. Beginning in 1927, he served in various consular posts in Asia and later in Spain, where he witnessed the Spanish Civil War and became an outspoken advocate for the Republican cause. His experiences led him to embrace communism, a commitment that would shape much of his later poetry and political activism. His collection España en el corazón (Spain in Our Hearts, 1937) reflected his deep sorrow over the war and marked a shift toward politically engaged writing.
Returning to Chile, he was elected to the Senate in 1945 as a member of the Communist Party. However, his vocal opposition to the repressive policies of President Gabriel Gonzalez Videla led to his exile. During this period, he traveled through various countries, including Argentina, Mexico, and the Soviet Union, further cementing his status as a global literary and political figure. It was during these years that he wrote Canto General (1950), an epic work chronicling Latin American history and the struggles of its people.
Neruda’s return to Chile in 1952 marked a new phase in his life, balancing political activity with a prolific literary output. He remained a staunch supporter of socialist ideals and later developed a close relationship with Salvador Allende, who appointed him as Chile’s ambassador to France in 1970. The following year, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, recognized for the scope and impact of his poetry. His later years were marked by illness, and he died in 1973, just days after the military coup that overthrew Allende. His legacy endures, not only in his vast body of work but also in his influence on literature, political thought, and the cultural identity of Latin America.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 12, 2025
This collection of poems centers around how one spends their time, or rather, how they make use of their hands. Neruda laments that which he did not accomplish and expresses admiration for accomplishments made at the hands others. Overall the collection adheres to these themes, except for a few poems seemingly included at random wherein Neruda scorns his enemies? Kinda funny lol but felt misplaced.
Favorites: Cerca de los cuchillos, El llanto, El que cantó cantará, Nos ahogamos
After learning about Neruda’s political career and enduring legacy as one of the great Latin American poets, I was excited to finally explore his writing, but this collection honestly didn’t move me quite as much I’d hoped? 3.5 stars. Perhaps I’m to blame for setting such high expectations or perhaps this particular collection is a poor introduction to his work since he’s best known for his love poems. I’ll be reading 20 poemas de amor y una canción de desesperada next. Stay tuned.
One last note! Big shoutout O’Daly for the beautiful translation work. I read a Spanish/English version with side by side translations which ended up saving me from a ton of screen time spent searching definitions of the more flowerful vocab on linguee. O’Daly provides really solid translations, preserving Neruda’s intent, tone, and rhythm.
Favorites: Cerca de los cuchillos, El llanto, El que cantó cantará, Nos ahogamos
After learning about Neruda’s political career and enduring legacy as one of the great Latin American poets, I was excited to finally explore his writing, but this collection honestly didn’t move me quite as much I’d hoped? 3.5 stars. Perhaps I’m to blame for setting such high expectations or perhaps this particular collection is a poor introduction to his work since he’s best known for his love poems. I’ll be reading 20 poemas de amor y una canción de desesperada next. Stay tuned.
One last note! Big shoutout O’Daly for the beautiful translation work. I read a Spanish/English version with side by side translations which ended up saving me from a ton of screen time spent searching definitions of the more flowerful vocab on linguee. O’Daly provides really solid translations, preserving Neruda’s intent, tone, and rhythm.
January 12, 2021
This bilingual book of poems centers around Neruda's recognition that there are so very many things he never did, never learned to do, during his lifetime, and his awe and appreciation for those people who make the things (such as brooms and chairs and fishing nets) we mindlessly use in our everyday lives. Like all of Neruda's work, these poems are achingly beautiful. Spanish on the left page, English on the right.
May 25, 2019
Yet another fine translation by William O'Daly of the late work of Pablo Neruda. One can certainly hear echoes of Walt Whitman in these poems, a poet Neruda read and admired. There are many fine poems in the collection, but an overall unity is sometimes disturbed by a few poems that seem here just to vent spleen against those who have wronged the poet. Don't let that stop you from reading and spending some time here.
Neruda's language within even many shorter poems goes from the prosaic commonplace to sudden surreal juxtapositions. The end result is to make words new. As Neruda desired of all art,
Strike a blow of fire with your guitar,
raise it, as it burbs:
it is your flag.
Neruda's language within even many shorter poems goes from the prosaic commonplace to sudden surreal juxtapositions. The end result is to make words new. As Neruda desired of all art,
Strike a blow of fire with your guitar,
raise it, as it burbs:
it is your flag.
November 5, 2018
Algunos poemas son demasiado rebuscados pero la mayoría, aún hablando de lo cotidiano, tiene un baile y un juego que te envuelven.
Queda como un libro que revisitar, para redescubrir de acuerdo a lo que vivas, que no pierde vigencia, que sigue bien vivo.
Queda como un libro que revisitar, para redescubrir de acuerdo a lo que vivas, que no pierde vigencia, que sigue bien vivo.
December 7, 2020
La profundidad de ideas en la poesía, con un lenguaje sencillo, esa puede ser una buena descripción de esta obra de Pablo Neruda.
" Así fue:
no sé cómo
se me paso la vida
sin aprender, sin ver,
sin recoger y unir
los elementos."
" Así fue:
no sé cómo
se me paso la vida
sin aprender, sin ver,
sin recoger y unir
los elementos."
March 13, 2018
I hate reviewing poetry. I fully understand that just because it didn’t work for me does not mean it won’t affect someone for the better.
March 21, 2019
Hard to judge the translations without being familiar with the original language.
February 25, 2025
Yhdistän nousuveden Pablo Nerudaan. Tuntuu kuin hänen runoudessaan aina toistuisi sana nousuvesi. Jopa elokuvassa Il Postino nousuvesi on läsnä.
February 27, 2025
Love love love
April 27, 2025
bello como siempre neruda
January 19, 2010
This was simply an amazing book of poems. This is the only book where I willing and without hesitation read each and every poem twice immediately. I also marked a much higher percentage as favorites/speaking to me. Having read several Neruda books so far (and after) this is by far my favorite!
I wish I could explain why but best that I can say is that the poems, individually and collectively, really spoke to me. In this book, Neruda really questions his life, its purpose, its meaning, and whether he actually did anything of value with his hands. It is intense. But it is what I need.
I declare myself guilty of never having
fashioned, with these hands I was given,
a broom.
Why did I not make a broom?
Why was I given hands at all?
What purpose did they serve
if I …
I “The Guilty One”
In this shop
I want to buy a pair of hands,
I want to discard
my own:
they do not serve me.
I want to know
whether being so old
I am capable
of starting over,
of working anew,
of carrying on.
With fresh feeling, I want to touch
the world,
the bodies,
the bells,
the roots,
to be born
in other fingers,
…
XXXV “Seal of the Plow”
There are many poems here asking the questions of these two. What have I done? Has it been of value? Why did I not do something with my hands? Was I valuable? Did I provide a service to the world?
The simplicity of the questioning is stunningly powerful, without coming anywhere near being maudlin.
I am going to crumple up this word,
I am going to twist it,
yes,
it is too flat,
it is as though a big dog or a great river
had run it over with a tongue or water
for many years.
In the world I want
roughness to be witnessed,
the salt of iron rust,
the toothless power
of the earth,
the blood
of those who spoke and those who did not speak.
I want to witness the thirst
inside the syllables:
I want to touch the fire
within the sound:
I want to feel the darkness
of the shout. I want
words rough
as virgin stones.
LX “Verb”
“I want to witness the thirst inside the syllables. … I want words as rough as virgin stones.”
Yes. I do want this.
http://marklindner.info/blog/2009/01/...
I wish I could explain why but best that I can say is that the poems, individually and collectively, really spoke to me. In this book, Neruda really questions his life, its purpose, its meaning, and whether he actually did anything of value with his hands. It is intense. But it is what I need.
I declare myself guilty of never having
fashioned, with these hands I was given,
a broom.
Why did I not make a broom?
Why was I given hands at all?
What purpose did they serve
if I …
I “The Guilty One”
In this shop
I want to buy a pair of hands,
I want to discard
my own:
they do not serve me.
I want to know
whether being so old
I am capable
of starting over,
of working anew,
of carrying on.
With fresh feeling, I want to touch
the world,
the bodies,
the bells,
the roots,
to be born
in other fingers,
…
XXXV “Seal of the Plow”
There are many poems here asking the questions of these two. What have I done? Has it been of value? Why did I not do something with my hands? Was I valuable? Did I provide a service to the world?
The simplicity of the questioning is stunningly powerful, without coming anywhere near being maudlin.
I am going to crumple up this word,
I am going to twist it,
yes,
it is too flat,
it is as though a big dog or a great river
had run it over with a tongue or water
for many years.
In the world I want
roughness to be witnessed,
the salt of iron rust,
the toothless power
of the earth,
the blood
of those who spoke and those who did not speak.
I want to witness the thirst
inside the syllables:
I want to touch the fire
within the sound:
I want to feel the darkness
of the shout. I want
words rough
as virgin stones.
LX “Verb”
“I want to witness the thirst inside the syllables. … I want words as rough as virgin stones.”
Yes. I do want this.
http://marklindner.info/blog/2009/01/...
June 17, 2008
I will be the first to admit I don't read a lot of poetry - it generally requires more brain cells than I have left at the end of the day. But this was beautiful! You can read one at a time and just savor it. It was a treat I had all to myself! I also really liked seeing both the original and the English version side by side...reading this book is really something you should do for yourself, especially if you are not sure you like poetry...its very comfy - like your favotire chair!
October 8, 2015
Some of the work seemed a bit disingenuous as far as the poet putting himself on a cross for the working man. Keep in mind this is the first I'm reading of Neruda, so my feeling is subject to change.
Some poems of note: "The Patient Sunbathes," "The Past," "A Certain Man, His Own Beast."
Some poems of note: "The Patient Sunbathes," "The Past," "A Certain Man, His Own Beast."
Currently reading
December 18, 2009beautiful.
March 29, 2016
Exquisite. Delicious. A collection to return to.
March 30, 2017
super good
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews