somewhere i have never travelled
somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond
any experience, your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near
your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skilfully, mysteriously) her first rose
or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully, suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending;
nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility: whose texture
compels me with the colour of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing
(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens; only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands
Commentary
A most unusual occurrence: a guest poem suggested (independently) by no less than three different readers - Devyani Saltzman, Raj Palaniswamyand Erin Cheatham. Reading the poem, it’s not hard to see why…
1931.
I don’t know anything about the story behind this poem, but I feel it’s one of the most beautiful love poems I’ve ever read. Whenever I read it, I’m constantly blown away by the tenderness expressed through his use of language. It’s almost as if one can feel the lightness of the caress between these two people. One of my favourite lines has just this effect:
“you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens (touching skilfully, mysteriously) her first rose”
The poem almost ‘breathes’, for all its detail and the analogy of the rose, there is so much room to imagine between the lines. However many times I read it the poem takes on new tones and meanings. It’s limitless.
— Devyani
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From the Wondering Minstrels mailing list, 1999–2008.
Annalou Apao · 14 October 2005
the first time i hear this poem was on a radio.. the voice was so deep that i could never stop hearing it, as i listen to the poem i was moved by it.. the poem was really amazing that from then on i could not stop myself from looking for a copy of it..or maybe i was just too caught up with the idea of “PERFECT LOVE”.. every time i hear the poem i always find new meaning to every line and now i begun to memorized it hehe.. for the author thanks so much cause this poem really moves me in so many ways,in ways i could never figure out..thanks so much..:)
anna
ieda · 6 January 2007
A brazilian composer, called Zeca Baleiro, have made a beautiful song of this very beautiful poem. The only bad thing it’s the song is performed in portuguese (but the translation is perfect, literal).
Susan Perkins · 7 January 2007
To me, these are the musings of a man in love, a man who lies awake next to his love as she sleeps, and watching her breathe finds he awake and smiling staring back at him….
He muses later in front of the mirror, shaving, he muses as he walks into his work…..he concludes when he holds he again, breathing deep the warmth and the musk of her hair, as he draws her near once again..
This is the place we seek when we are seeking love
perfectly captured in words…
Teri Cosentino · 25 January 2007
This poem is so perfect that it is almost painful. The eloquent descriptions speak to the depth and fullness of love and hope. Thank you for reminding me.
Teri
SilvestriErnie · 31 May 2007
Can someone please explain the last line of this poem?
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Nariman Romanda · 9 August 2007
how could i forget such poem? i won a silver medal for this as a poetry reader
in our university. thanks so much for the author. one thing i know that made
me won during the contest was because of the message of the poem. it inspired and stil inspires me just like how nicholas sparks do to my emotions.