Finale, Pablo Neruda
Meditation
Found on the poet’s desk after his death, “Finale” is Pablo Neruda’s final poem, and a love letter to his wife, Matilde. “It was beautiful to live/when you lived!” he writes. In the hours before his death, he approached his “sea of renewal” through re-living the comfort of his love between two souls, and basking in gratitude for her.
With whom do you spend your life? When your hours come to a close, what do you wish them to know about your love and gratitude for them? Is it different from the ways you express love and gratitude now? Why wait? If not through the power of poetry like Nerdua’s, how can you convey your deep thankfulness to those with whom you share your life?
Brianna Curran, Washington, DC
