Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) was one of the most important poets in 20th-century world literature. The influence of his life and work transcends the literary sphere and reaches into the political and social history of Chile.

I can write the saddest verses tonight.

Write, for example, "The night is starry,

and they shiver, blue, the stars, in the distance."

The night wind whirls in the sky and sings.

I can write the saddest verses tonight.

I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too.

On nights like this one, I held her in my arms.

I kissed her so many times under the infinite sky.

She loved me, sometimes I loved her too.

How could I not have loved her large, fixed eyes?

I can write the saddest verses tonight.

To think that I don't have her. To feel that I've lost her.

Header image:

Photograph of Pablo Neruda in 1963. Author: Unknown (Mondadori Publishers)