watching YOU :)

SUMMATION

by Pablo Neruda


I am glad of the great obligations
I imposed on myself. In my life
many strange and material things have crowded together--
fragile wraiths that entangled me,
categorical mineral hands,
an irrational wind that dismayed me,
barbed kisses that scarred me, the hard reality
of my brothers,
my implacable vow to keep watchful,
my penchant for loneliness-- to keep to myself
in the frailty of my personal whims.
That is why-- water on stone-- my whole life has
sung itself out between chance and austerity.