oh! to celebrate you with all the words of joy.

[oh! poder celebrarte con todas las palabras de alegria. – Pablo Neruda]

I’ve become enchanted with Pablo Neruda. In fact, added to my List of Reasons I Want To Learn Spanish is “- To read Neruda’s poetry en Español”. Why am I enchanted? Here are just a few reasons:

• He wrote in green ink because it is the color of hope.
• “Pablo Neruda” was first a pen name created to hide his poetry from his father who wanted him to have a practical profession. (His real name was Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto)
• He’s a fellow Francophile! The “Pablo” part comes from French poet Paul Verlaine. Neruda was also the Chilean ambassador to France from 1970-1972.
• He wrote a poem called “Ode to a lemon”. As it is the most versatile and delicious fruit I know, I concur that lemons definitely deserve an ode. (And a beautiful one it is! If you’re interested, check out the English translation.
• He was nominated to be President, but gave his support to Salvador Allende, who was the first democratically elected socialist President of Chile.
• After they overthrew Allende in the coup of 1973, and while they were searching through Neruda’s house, he said to military dictator Pinochet’s minons, “Look around, there’s only on thing of danger for you here – Poetry.”
• He chose to own a house in Valparaiso (neighbor city to Viña del mar), which is oft described as poor, poetic and bohemian.
• One of his books of poems is called The Book of Questions. The poems consist only of questions!
• I visited Neruda’s home in Valparaiso. Here are some photos of his home and the boat tour I took of Valparaiso.