Pablo Neruda + Chickens = A Certain Weariness

To many people, Pablo Neruda has come to be a humorous cliche, somewhere along the lines of, "I was with my babe last night when I read her some Neruda. I could feel her soul through his words."

To me, it's too bad that Neruda has more cliche attached to his name than I think the depth of worth he deserves based on his poetry and phrasings. For example, he once wrote I want to do with you what spring does t the cherry trees. I like that.

My introduction to Neruda came from the folk singer Greg Brown. On one of his albums he does a song titled Canned Goods (see the video below the poem) in which he does a spoken word bit and he mentions Neruda's weariness with chickens. Listen for it in the video.

So today, I wanted to post that poem by Neruda titled A Certain Weariness. Notice the first line.

A Certain Weariness

I don’t want to be tired alone,
I want you grow with me.

How can we not be weary
of the king of fine ash
which falls on cities in autumn,
something which doesn’t quite burn,
which collects in jackets
and little by little settles,
discoloring the heart.

I’m tired of the harsh sea
and the mysterious earth.
I’m tired of the chickens –
we never know what they think,
and they look at us dry eyes
as though we were unimportant.

Let us for once – I invite you –
be tired of so many things,
of awful aperitifs,
of a good education.

Tired of not going to France,
tired of at least
one or two days in the week
which have always the same names
like dishes on the table,
and of getting up – what for? –
and going to be without glory.

Let us finally tell the truth:
we never thought much of
these days that are like
houseflies or camels.

I have seen some monuments
raised to titans,
to donkeys of industry.
They’re there, motionless,
with their swords in their hands
on their gloomy horses.
I’m tired of statues.
Enough of all that stone.

If we go on filling up
the world with still things,
how can the living live?

I am tired of remembering.

I want men, when they’re born,
to breathe in naked flowers,
fresh soil, pure fire,
not just what everyone breathes.
Leave the newborn in peace!

Leave room for them to live!
Don’t think for them,
don’t read them the same book;
let them discover the dawn
and name their own kisses.

I want you to be weary with me
of all that is already well done,
of all that age us.

Of all that lies in wait
to wear out other people.

Let us be weary of what kills
and of what doesn’t want to die.

Greg Brown is below. Sorry for the lack of images, but just listen to his deep baritone voice and the poetry of his words.