Leaning into the afternoons is another poem about love by Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda. The first time I read it, I got a sense of an older person talking to his love. Perhaps senility was playing its ugly hand and taking his love away bit by bit.
The “experts” seem to have other ideas, however. They speak of this poem as another example of unrequited or lost love. The poet is unable to grasp and hold the attention of his beloved. Maybe, he even lost his chance of love with her some time in the past.
What does this poem say to you? Perhaps, you’d also like to read it in the original Spanish?
You can listen to the reading of Inclinado en las tardes.
I tried to find an English reading of this poem but couldn’t find one that I liked enough to share. But just listening to the rhythm of the words, even if you don’t understand Spanish can help you understand the deep longing embedded in this poem.
Hope you loved it!
If you enjoyed this post please LIKE or SHARE. To learn more about Spanish Language, Latin American history and culture, FOLLOW Over The Andes today via WordPress or Facebook or subscribe to my mailing list.
I was reading recently that in his memoir Neruda confessed to raping a maid: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/nov/23/chile-neruda-airport-rename-outrage-admitted-rape-memoirs
Does this affect your love for his poetry? I think I might need some time…
Oh…. sigh. Now that opens the whole other can of worms. Can you separate the art from the artist…..
I think it’s a nice poem.
The unrequited love story…. 🙂
When I was listening to the reading, I imagined the narrator kneeling beside his beloved as she’s either lying in a bed or sitting in a rocker and he’s just unleashing his soul, trying to reach her.
Awww. That’s a quite an image you’ve drawn there.
Thank you! 😀
I read the poem first, then your take on it. I thought the same thing as you. Neruda is one of my favorite poets. We visited his house in Santiago when we visited. Very imaginative!
Ah… you’ve piqued my interest in the house. Will have to look it up.
It looks like a ship!
Oh my. Lol. Quite unique indeed. Just googled some pics.