Saturday, September 9, 2017

Fall Fun Series II: Autumnal Nostalgia

Last year's super moon during sunset in autumn, while spider looks on.

If You Forget Me
- by Pablo Neruda

I want you to know
one thing.

You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you, little by little.

If suddenly
you forget me,
do not look for me,
for I shall have already forgotten you.

If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.

if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.


  1. Your moon photos are so special, love the low exposure of the prominent leaves and topsy-turvy spidey, while the moon light is hazily captured.
    I don't find this poem particularly autumnal or romantic but the imagery and personification seize my senses with arrowlike precision, making me take note and reread some of the lines. It's sentimental but in a barbed way, almost like one can be pricked on the words.

    1. Thank you for the kind words about my photo.

      That's too bad you didn't like the poem.

    2. I don't dislike it. I had a strong reaction to it, positive and negative and reading it again, I noticed the pleasing shape formed by the flowing stanzas.

  2. What a beautiful poem and photo! I love a good poem and the Autumnal imagery was scintillating.

    1. Thank you!! I fell in love with both as well. It reminds me of some conversations I have had with my husband.

  3. Lovely photo and poem combination, Julie!

    1. Thank you!! I am glad you like them. <3 I miss you!

  4. What a gorgeous shot. As much as I would love it framed and hung up on the wall, I can't help but imagine it wrapped around a large jar candle as its label! Paired with the poem, it definitely gets me in a fall mood.
    -Angela Kay

    1. Thank you! I loved watching the moon those nights. It was stunning. Candle art?! How cool would that be?!

      So happy you enjoyed both like I do. <3 and I am thrilled you joined the FFS again!

  5. Oh my gosh, that photo is perfection!

    1. Thanks! Capturing the moon is hard since I don't have the right lens anymore (Atlantic ocean claimed it as a sacrifice) but I was happy to get this shot.