Comments on: Too Many Names

By: Purnima

Purnima — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:27:02 +0000

A PROFOUNDLY SIMPLE poem__an antithesis though this may sound, thats exactly what I felt on reading it.Neruda has used confusing images to drive in a clear meaning. Its amazing how anyone can write like this! Thanks for insisting that I read it, Ajay !!

By: michele roohani

michele roohani — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:58:18 +0000

“let us not fill our mouths
with so many faltering names,
with so many sad formalities,
with so many pompous letters,
with so much of yours and mine,
with so much of signing of papers…”

the great master, NERUDA, has said it elegantly, succinctly, poetically – now imagine reading this in spanish or better listening to Neruda recite it in his mother tongue…

By: Sonya Rose

Sonya Rose — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 01:28:22 +0000

What a deep poem, like the ocean itself. Thank you for sharing, Ajay … “Too Many Names” made a wonderful read this evening.

If you pause and think about life for a moment: How many people have we come across so far in our journey? The answer would probably be “many” and one may recall a face but forget the name or vice versa or can totally forget the person (name, face) or something he/she did that may have been quite significant in some way (and by all means, it’s so understandable because we live in such a fast paced world, hard to keep up with all the changes) … and meditating … writing poetry … or writing our life stories can make us more aware of life’s meaning and our interconnections … gives birth, new meaning to our lives. Reminds me of:

“May Sarton”

… without darkness
Nothing comes to birth,
As without light
Nothing flowers.

Many Blessings to you~

By: Sandy

Sandy — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 13:55:34 +0000

Ajay–
I love this one! As always, your blog invites deep reflection, a smile of understanding, appreciation for the variety and wonder of your thinking.
Warm blessings,
Sandy

By: Max Babi

Max Babi — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 07:14:55 +0000

Ajay,
at my age and reading experience, it would be rare to find such a five star poem as
not listed in my personal favourites. I discovered this in a collection by Neruda, whom
I used to worship during my bubbling boiling adolescence -surrounded by 55 artists,
scientists, thinkers, visionaries…at Baroda. Circa 1975-76. Used to read this out to some
very witty, scholarly and pretty young things many of whom still are fond of me, thanks to
Pablo Neruda. Thank you for pointing out to me, it is a hard hitting poem.
Regds
Max