Patch Adams and a Pablo Neruda Poem

[jayx2]

I definately have a soft spot for Robin Williams flics...Dead Poets Society, Good Morning Vietnam, One Hour Photo, Aladin, Happy Feet, etc. This weekend I was watching Patch Adams, a cheesy and sentimental light comedy about a doctor who attempts to improve the quality of life around him (like I said its cheesy). While watching this there are several references to Walt Whitman and poetry in general. In particular he keeps trying to complete this one poem that starts:

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride,

So, I went looking for it.  It is not Walt Whitman, but Pablo Neruda.  Its beautiful:

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms,
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers.
Thanks to your love a certain fragrance,
risen darkly from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride,
so I love you because I know no other way than this:
where "I" does not exist, nor "you,"
So close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
So close that your eyes close and I fall asleep.

-Pablo Neruda