Friday, April 06, 2007

Who Dies?


Who Dies?

Dies slowly he who transforms himself into a slave of habit,
repeating every day the same routines,
who does not change brands,
does not risk wearing a new color, nor talking to those he doesn’t know.

Dies slowly he who makes television his guru.

Dies slowly he who avoids a passion,
who prefers black to white
and the dots on the “i” to a whirlpool of emotions,
Dies slowly he who does not overthrow the table when unhappy at work,
who does not risk the certain for the uncertain
to go toward the dream that is keeping him awake.

Who does not, at least once in life, flee from sound thinking.

Dies slowly he who does not travel, does not read,
does not listen to music, who does not find grace in himself.

Dies slowly he who destroys his self love,
who does not accept help from another.

Dies slowly he who passes his days complaining of his bad luck or the incessant rain.

Dies slowly he who abandons a project before starting it,
who does not ask about a subject he does not know
or who does not answer when being asked about something he does know.

Dies slowly he who does not share his emotions, joys and sadness,
who does not trust, who does not even try.

Dies slowly he who does not intend excelling,
who does not learn from the stones on the road of life,
who does not love and let somebody love him.

Let’s avoid death in soft quotes,
remembering always that to be alive demands an effort much bigger
that the simple fact of breathing.

-Pablo Neruda

5 comments:

Professor Howdy said...

.

If I could speak in any
language in heaven or
on earth but didn't love
others, I would only be
making meaningless noise
like a loud gong or a
clanging cymbal. If I
had the gift of prophecy,
and if I knew all the
mysteries of the future
and knew everything
about everything, but
didn't love others, what
good would I be? And
if I had the gift of faith
so that I could speak
to a mountain and make
it move, without love
I would be no good to
anybody. If I gave
everything I have to
the poor and even
sacrificed my body,
I could boast about it;
but if I didn't love others,
I would be of no value
whatsoever. Love is
patient and kind. Love
is not jealous or boastful
or proud or rude. Love
does not demand its
own way. Love is not
irritable, and it keeps
no record of when it
has been wronged.
It is never glad about
injustice but rejoices
whenever the truth
wins out. Love never
gives up, never loses
faith, is always hopeful,
and endures through
every circumstance.

May You Always
Experience This
Kind Of Love,
Dr. Howdy

Prerona said...

beautiful poem ...
maybe its right, maybe (sometimes) life is the surest and most painful way of killing urself

Rainbow dreams said...

the very difference between being alive and living each moment - how very true, thank you for sharing this poem Dana, Happy Easter, Katie,x

Shaz said...

Wow how true I loved this. They should teach this in little school.
Happy Easter.

awareness said...

hey Prof Howdy, whoever you are :)
Love the name and love the power of love......

ricercar....i loved this poem the moment i first read it. glad you liked it to.

Happy Easter to you Katie.

Shaz.....yes.....wise words. :)