I saw this book of poetry today in the office, the place where your princess does all of her schooling these days. There was a book mark, I opened it and this is what I found.
YOUR LAUGHTER
Deprive me of bread, if you want,
deprive me of air, but
don't deprive me of your laughter.
Don't deprive me of the rose,
the stick you thresh the grains with,
the water splashing
swiftly in your joy,
the sudden silver wave
born in you.
My struggle is painful. As I return
with my eyes sometimes tired
from watching
the unchanging earth,
your laughter enters
and raises to heaven
in search of me,
to open all the doors of life.
My loved one, in the darkest hour,
unsheath your laughter.
and if suddenly
you see my blood staining
the cobblestones,
laugh, for your laughter
will be for my hands
like an unsullied sword.
Near the sea in autumn,
your laughter must rise
in its cascade of foam,
and in spring, my love,
I want your laughter
to be like the flower, the rose
of my resonant homeland.
Laugh at the night,
at the last day, at the moon,
laugh at the twisted
streets of the island,
laugh at this clumsy
young man who loves you.
Yet when I open my eyes
and close them,
when my steps go,
when my steps return,
deny me bread, air
light, spring,
but never your laughter
for I would die.
Pablo Neruda
translated by
Ilan Stavans
Laughter is the elixir that feeds our unseen needs.one of my favorites memories his laughter joined by yours.I always knew when he called by Sherry's unbridled laughter. I see his headed reared back with a roar of laughter and the pleasure he received from yours.
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