Poem: I explain a Few things by Pablo Neruda
I Explain a Few Things
By Pablo Neruda
You will ask: and where are the lilies?
And the metaphysical blanket of poppies?
And the rain that often beat on
His words, filling them
With holes and birds?
Let me tell you everything that's going on with me.
And one morning it was all in flames,
One morning blazing fires,
Came out of the earth,
Devouring people,
And since then, fire,
Gunpowder since then,
And since then, blood.
Outlaws with planes and moors,
Outlaws with Jewels and duchesses,
Outlaws with black friars offering their blessing,
Came through the skies to kill children,
And in the streets the blood of children,
Ran simply, like children's blood.
But from each dead child comes a rifle with eyes,
Bur from each murder are born bullets
That one day will find their way to your hearts.
You will ask: why does his poetry
Not speak to us of dreams, of the leaves,
Of the great volcanoes of his native country?
Come see the blood in the streets,
Come see
The blood in the streets,
Come see the blood
In the streets!
