Pablo Neruda's Sonnet 73

from Cien Sonetas de Amor

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You will perhaps recall that pointed man

Who slipped out of the darkness like a knife

And before we could understand, already understood:

He detected smoke and decided that fire must be on its way.

The pale woman with long black hair

Surfaced like a fish from the deep

And between them they erected against love

A machine armed and fanged.

The man and woman hacked through mountains and gardens

Descended to rivers, climbed to the walls

And dragged their gross weaponry to the hills.

At last, love recognized itself as love.

And when I finally lifted my eyes to your name,

Your heart placed them on the right path.

(translated from the Spanish by Linda Sue Grimes)

LXXIII
Recordaras tal vez aquel hombre afilado
que de la oscuridad salió como un cuchillo
y antes de que supiéramos, sabia:
vio el humo y decidió que venía del fuego.

La pálida mujer de cabellera negra
surgió como un pescado del abismo
y entre los dos alzaron en contra del amor
una maquina armada de dientes numerosos.

Hombre y mujer talaron montañas y jardines,
bajaron a los ríos, treparon por los muros,
subieron por los montes su atroz artillería.

El amor supo entonces que se llamaba amor.
Y cuando levante mis ojos a tu nombre
tu corazón de pronto dispuso mi camino.

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