PoetryBook
Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair by Pablo Neruda
A timeless classic of passionate love poetry that defined a generation.
Why I Recommend This
Pablo Neruda's Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair is one of the most celebrated poetry collections of the 20th century—and for good reason.
Written when Neruda was barely out of his teens, these poems capture the intensity of young love, desire, and heartbreak with stunning maturity. The imagery is sensual and elemental, drawing on the sea, the night sky, and the natural world.
Favorite line: "I want to do with you what spring does with the cherry trees."
Reading Neruda in the original Spanish is a revelation, but even in translation, the power of his words transcends language. This is poetry that speaks to the heart.