Spanish Language Poet Pablo Neruda
Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for Spotlight! I'm Rebekah Schipper.
Voice 2
And I'm Liz Waid.
Voice 3
It is Born
"Here I came to the very edge where nothing at all needs saying, everything is absorbed* through weather and the sea, and the moon swam back, its rays* all silvered, and time and again the darkness would be broken by the crash of a wave, and every day on the balcony* of the sea, wings open, fire is born, and everything is blue again, like morning." [Pablo Neruda; translated by Alastair Reed]
Voice 2
What did you think of when you heard this poem? Could you hear the waves crashing against the sandy shore? Could you see the silver moon? Could you see the beautiful blue colour it speaks of? This poem talks about the birth of fire. Could you imagine fire being born on the sea?
Voice 1
This poem is by a man named Pablo Neruda. He was a Spanish language poet from Chile. Neruda wrote many poems. Some were poems about history. Sometimes a historical poem told a very long story. Sometimes it demanded change in society. Neruda was also very interested in politics. So, he wrote poems about politics. He wrote emotional and sexual love poems. They were very popular. And he also wrote poems about common things in life - like nature and the sea.
Today's Spotlight is on the life and poems of Pablo Neruda.
Voice 2
Pablo Neruda was born in 1904, in Chile. Even as a young boy, he was always interested in literature and writing. In fact, he started writing poetry when he was only ten [10] years old. A local daily newspaper first published Neruda's writing. He was only thirteen [13] years old!
Voice 1
In 1920, he began to use a pseudonym, or false name, in his writing. You see, Pablo Neruda was born as Ricardo Eliecer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto. But Neruda's father did not approve of his son's writing. So, Neruda used a false name to hide his writing from his family. He had great respect for a Czech writer named Jan Neruda. So, he used part of her name in his new name.
Voice 2
In 1923 Neruda published his first set of poems. It was called “Book of Twilights" ["Crepusculario"]. And in 1924, Neruda published his second set of poems. It was called “Twenty Love Poems And A Song of Despair" ["Veinte poemas de amor y una conción desesperada"]. Some people thought these poems were too erotic, or sexual. But they were very popular. Here is part of one of the poems.
Voice 3
"I can write the saddest lines tonight. Write for example: ‘The night is (broken) and the stars, blue, shiver* in the distance' ... On nights like these I held her in my arms I kissed her so many times under the (endless) sky. ... I can write the saddest lines tonight. To think I (do not) have her, to feel I have lost her. ..." [Pablo Neruda; Excerpt from “From - Twenty Poems of Love”]
Voice 1
Each book was translated into many languages. And they remain popular even today! People all around the world have bought over a million [1,000,000] copies of “Twenty Love Songs And A Song of Despair” since it first appeared.
Voice 2
During his life, Neruda travelled all around the world. He lived in other countries as a representative for Chile. He worked for the government to earn money. But he also continued writing. And he experimented with different kinds of poetry.
Voice 1
During the 1930’s, Neruda was working in Spain. Spain was experiencing a civil war. Neruda saw the effects of war there. The people had suffered. It was at this time that he became very interested in politics. He writes:
Voice 3
"... Then one morning flames* Came out of the ground (Eating) human beings. From then on fire, Gunpowder from then on, From then on blood. ... I have seen the blood of Spain rise up against you to drown you in a single wave of pride and knives! ... Come See the blood along the streets Come see The blood along the streets Come see the blood Along the streets!”
[Pablo Neruda; Excerpt from “I'll Explain Some Things”]
Voice 2
When Neruda began writing, his poems were about many different things. But now, his poetry turned toward more political subjects.
Voice 1
One of Neruda's most famous and political poems is called “Canto General,” or “General Song.” It was made up of almost two hundred fifty [250] poems in fifteen [15] different parts. It told about much of South American history. It even told about the land and plants. But most of all “Canto General” demanded social justice for all people. It was translated into many different languages. And it is one of Neruda's finest works.
Voice 2
One of the poems of “Canto General” is called “Alturas de Macchu Picchu,” or “The Heights of Macchu Picchu.” In 1943 Neruda went to Peru. There he saw the ancient Incan remains of Macchu Picchu. He felt encouraged to write a poem about the place. The poem was made up of twelve [12] different parts. In the poem, he wrote about the beauty of the remains. But he also told of the slaves that helped to build the structure. In the poem, Neruda invited the dead slaves to come back to life. He said that he would be their voice.
Voice 3
“I come to speak for your dead mouths.
Throughout the earth let dead lips* (come together) ... And tell me everything, tell chain by chain, and link by link, and step by step; ... Speak through my speech, and through my blood.”
[Pablo Neruda; Excerpt from Canto XII from “The Heights of Macchu Picchu”]
Voice 2
This poem also encouraged interest in the ancient people of South America - like the Incans.
Voice 1
In 1971 Neruda won the Nobel Prize for writing. Some people debated if he should win. They did not agree with his political beliefs. And the government of Chile did not always like his work and ideas. But other people worked hard to make sure Neruda received the award. They believed his writing was special.
Voice 2
Neruda retired to “Casa de Isle Negra,” his house on the Black Island. He loved this home because he loved the sea. This is where he wrote the poem we read in the beginning of this program - “It is Born.” He died of leukaemia in 1973. But his poetry still lives. People visit Casa de Isle Negra every year.
Voice 1
Over the years, Neruda's poetry has inspired many people. He used his ability to write and improve people's lives.
Voice 3
“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 (called), from the branches of night (suddenly) from the others, among violent fires or returning along, there I was without a face and it touched me. ...”
[Pablo Neruda; Excerpt from “Poetry.”]
Voice 2
The poems in this program were translated by a few different writers. For more information or to hear more Spotlight programs please visit our website at www.radio.english.net. This program is called “Spanish Language Poet Pablo Neruda.”
Voice 1
You can also email us at radio @ english . net. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye!
*absorbed: taken in *rays: a beam, or line, of light *balcony: a platform, or kind of floor, that comes out from the side of a building; it is surrounded by a rail that protects people from falling off. Here, it means that the sea presents something, as a leader giving a speech from a balcony. *shiver: to move, as if cold; shake *flames: pieces of fire *lips: the part of a person's body surrounding the mouth.
