Monday, December 19, 2011

A Quiet Moment: A Poem by Pablo Neruda


Inspiration to Ponder Over the Holidays 



Poetry
–Pablo Neruda
And it was at that age...
Poetry arrived
In search of me. I don’t know, I don’t know where
It came from, from winter or a river.
I don’t know how or when,
No, they were not voices, they were not
Words, nor silence,
But from a street I was summoned,
From the branches of night,
Abruptly from the others,
Among violent fires
On returning alone,
There I was without a face
And it touched me.

And I wrote the first faint line,
Faint without substance, pure
Nonsense,
Pure wisdom,
Of someone who knows nothing
And suddenly I saw
The heavens unfasten and open
Planets,
Palpitating plantations
Shadow perforated
Riddled
With arrows, fire and flowers,
The winding night, the universe.

And I, infinitesimal being,
Drunk with the great starry void,
Likeness, image of
Mystery
Felt myself a pure part
Of the abyss
I wheeled with the stars,
My heart broke loose on the wind.


Thank you, Pablo.

Neruda’s poem recalls Gerald Manley Hopkins...especially at the end.

For soaring beauty and insight, a sense of worlds and wonder, Gerard Manley Hopkins’s poems can offer a moment of ‘wheeling with the stars’. 


Soaring into 2012
And I would like to add this lovely inspiration sent to me today by my friend Jan Shrem, owner of Clos Pegase Winery in the Napa Valley:

‘I wish you an ethereal sense of search in life towards love, longing and wonderment of the world.’

I wish you every happiness

Diane




Credits: 
Photography exclusively for THE STYLE SALONISTE by Diane Dorrans Saeks
Blog art direction: Brian Dittmar



20 comments:

A Super Dilettante said...

Dear Diane,

What a beautiful poem by Pablo Neruda and what a beautiful way to start the week. I love "Planets, Palpitating plantations, shadow perforated, riddled with arrows, fire and flowers"...it's such a beguiling expression and melody - remind me of the music of Federico Mompou.

Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a really great year in 2012!! Thank you so much for all the inspiration and beautiful posts which you have shared with us for this year. And I'm so very looking forward to reading all your marvellously informative posts and learning about style, design, architecture and taste from you in 2012.

Best wishes, ASD x

Diane Dorrans Saeks said...

Hello, Griffin-


I hope you are well..in the chilly north.
Pablo Neruda is a favorite poet of mine--as he writes of familiar and wonderful topics (love, relationships, passion, salt, even) with power and a great use of words to paint vivid images.
Poetry by-passed logic...and takes us to a 'larger' place, a different mind-set.
I wish you every happiness--and especially for 2012 lots of inspiration and delight.
DIANE

Windlost said...

How beautiful Diane. I was just thinking of you as I read your San Francisco books this week - picked them up in passing at my local library - they have a wonderful decor section! Beautifully written. :)

Terri

the modern sybarite ™ said...

It's only in the last couple of years that I've better understood poetry and Neruda has been one I often turn to. I did not know this one but it seemed to be describing me. Thanks for sharing!

Teresa said...

What a lovely way to start this magical week. I Love Pablo Neruda; one could get lost in Neruda's poetry and live among the emotions and thoughts shared.

Thank you!

Wishing you a Blessed and Happy Christmas,

Teresa

mary said...

Hi Diane, Thank you for this wonderful inspiration and blessing: an ethereal sense of search in life....may every day be filled with the sense of search and wonder. Thank you for an amazing year of posts filled with insight and joy. Mary

Virginia Country House said...

Thank you so much for that post. Your blog always inspires me. Warmest wishes for a merry Christmas and the most beautiful New Year yet.

Rosemary said...

What a beautiful gift. Thank you for your stellar post today. I have only been following your blog for a short time but it helps me in my quest to see the beauty in my life and desire more, not just in material things, but in the intellectual, nature, and what is all around me.
I remember when I discovered poetry as a child and how much it touched me, opening windows into a different life, new emotions, times in history, and possibilities. Reading this poem, which I did not know of, brought so much of that back to me.
Merry Christmas!

Splenderosa said...

You are one of the most brilliantly elegant & beautiful women in our world. Have a lovely holiday season, Dianne and Happy New Year also.
Sending love, sweetie...

Diane Dorrans Saeks said...

Tosca Seta Vonturi wrote:


Thank you for that gorgeous poem and heartfelt wishes to soar into 2012.
Sending great energy to you on wings of exquisite design, may your next year be the best ever Diane

Thank you so much.
And for you, also

Diane Dorrans Saeks said...

Rosemary-


Thank you so much for your kind and insightful comment.
Great poets can take us soaring into the spheres--and far beyond the small and day to day and ordinary.
They remind is in their whirling words that there are horizons and worlds and wit and brilliants far beyond the narrow focus we sometimes slip into.
I am so happy you discovered poetry as a child--it will be in your head forever. Such a gift.
Stay in touch, DIANE

Diane Dorrans Saeks said...

Marsha-


Thank you so much for your generous and kind words.

i so appreciate it. Your blog is wonderful.

best to you DIANE

Jill Moran said...

Diane,
What a beautiful sentiment to close out the year, and to usher in 2012.
Thank you!

Diane Dorrans Saeks said...

Cynthia said:


This posting was simply...magnificent.
The seashells in the photographs were reminiscent of Blake's World in a Grain of Sand.

Thank you, Diane.

Cynthia Washburn
Sent from my iPhone

Diane Dorrans Saeks said...

ROGER K. REID said:

I just have to say how much I enjoy your insight, good taste, delightful prose and travel tips throughout the year. You have really saved me in these times of low budgets and slow paying clients, with your wit and wisdom. Now do not go peacefully into that good night, but dance and sing your way into the tingling spirit of the new year!!!

Here’s to another year of magic!

Roger K Reid
Roger K Reid Interior Designs

Diane Dorrans Saeks said...

Roger


Thank you so much--I love your insight and your generosity in this message.
Thank you so much and please be sure to stay in touch and send more messages.
So appreciated ... and be sure to watch for some exciting news and stories coming up in 2012.
I have great plans in store.
January esp. will be exciting.
very best to you--and I wish you every happiness, DIANE

peggy braswell said...

Such a beautiful poem you picked + Grand images. Merry Christmas from LA, Diane
xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

Jen said...

This is one of my favorite poems. I just found your blog after visiting the amazing De Vera Objects in NY and then doing a search to learn more. I look forward to reading more posts.

quintessence said...

Such beautiful inspiration - the perfect way to start the new year. I look forward to experiencing wonderment with you in 2012!

Claudia Juestel said...

Simply beautiful! I have always been a big fan of Pablo Neruda, and I have enjoyed his poems in wonderful contrast to my fellow Austrian Rainer Maria Rilke.

Thank you for the beautiful inspiration on this freezing cold day.

Cheers,

Claudia