Pablo Neruda’s ‘Me Gustas Cuando Callas’ Analysis
Pablo Neruda’s poem ‘Me Gustas Cuando Callas’, first published in his 1952 collection Cien Sonetos de Amor, is a delicate and beautiful poem describing the speaker’s love and appreciation for the person they are with in the poem. Throughout the poem, Neruda writes of admiration for the other person’s silence, a silence which in the poem is seen as evidence of their beauty and their depths of emotion that can only be expressed in the language of silence. The poem, in many ways, speaks to the idea of living in balance between silence and speech, and examines the different power of each in communicating emotion and love. Neruda’s poem serves as a reminder that sometimes the most powerful words we can say are the ones we don’t say, and that in our own lives, sometimes silence is just as meaningful as words.
The poem begins with two simple lines that set the tone and establish the poem’s central idea that the speaker loves their partner most when they are silent: “Me gustas cuando callas porque estás como ausente,/ y me oyes desde lejos, y mi voz no te toca”. Roughly translated, these lines mean “I like you when you are silent, because you are like you are absent and you hear me from far away and my voice does not touch you”. In these lines, the speaker establishes that they like when their partner is silent because the silence is a sign of the person’s absence from the physical world and the speaker’s words do not touch them. In this way, the poem suggests that perhaps the speaker and their partner can connect on a deeper level when the partner is not speaking, and when the words cannot be heard. This idea of being able to connect in silence is carried throughout the poem, as the speaker delights in their partner’s presence even when their partner does not make a sound.
The poem goes on to describe not only the speaker’s appreciation for their partner’s silence, but also their appreciation for the beauty of their partner’s speech. In the lines “Cuando hablas, se abren las puertas de mi alma/ y entran en ella los sonidos, las tres campanillas/ de una lejanía íntima que nunca conocí” (roughly translated to “When you speak, the doors of my soul open/ and the sounds, the three bells/ of an intimate distance enter my soul which I never knew”), the speaker expresses appreciation for the sounds their partner makes and for the connection that is created through those sounds. This suggests that the speaker does not only enjoy the silence of the other person, but the sound of the other person’s voice when they break that silence.
The speaker also reflects on the power of silence and its ability to communicate something that words may not be able to capture. In the lines “Y el silencio dijo lo que no dijo la palabra/ y me rodeó con una multitud de lirios” (approximately “And the silence said what the word couldn’t say/ and surrounded me with a multitude of lilies”), the poem suggests that silence has a power that words do not have, and can communicate a feeling in a way that words cannot. The speaker also reflects on how powerful the silent moments can be, noting that “En aquel silencio, mi alma se acercó a la tuya/ con un vértigo que jamás volveré a saber” (“In that silence, my soul approached yours/ with a vertigo that I will never know again”). In these lines, the speaker reflects on how powerful the moments of silence between them can be, suggesting that in those moments, the two souls draw close with a feeling of intense emotion.
Finally, the poem ends with the idea that the speaker’s love only grows when they are in silence together: “Y me gustas cuando callas porque me has enseñado/ el silencio que hay entre dos piedras” (“And I like you when you are silent because you have taught me/ the silence that there is between two stones”). In these lines, the poem suggests that the silence between them, even if it is as unyielding as a stone, can be a place of understanding and connection. This speaks to the possibility of creating a strong and lasting connection, even in moments of silence, and speaks to the power that silence can have in expressing love, understanding, and appreciation between two people.
Love and Appreciation for Silence
Throughout the poem, Neruda expresses the idea that the silence between two people can be a place of connection and powerful emotion and, in turn, that the language of silence can be a powerful way to communicate love and appreciation. This sentiment is seen in the poem’s words as the speaker emphasizes the beauty of their partner’s silence and the power of the quiet moments between them. It is a sentiment that has been echoed by other poets and authors, and in turn has found its way into popular culture. For example, Emily Dickinson’s poem “I dwell in Possibility,” speaks of a home where all can meet in “silence and slow time,” and the phrase “silence is golden” is one still heard today, and speaks to the idea of appreciating silence and the power it can have.
This exploration of silence as a language of understanding can be seen in a variety of fields, from art and poetry to music and film. In music, for example, the band Radiohead released their song “The National Anthem” in 2000, which explores the idea of using silence as a way to “find a peaceful solution.” In film, George Lucas’ Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) establishes silence as an important being of communication, as Luke Skywalker and Rey take a moment of silence to connect with one another without words. In each of these instances, silence is seen as a powerful tool that can be used to communicate complex emotion and love, and can be used to bridge the difficult between people.
Application to Our Lives
In our own lives, we can use the sentiments found in Pablo Neruda’s poem to remind ourselves of the importance of silence and stillness. In this world of hustle and noise, it can be easy to forget that sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is nothing at all. In our relationships with partners, friends, and family, it can be essential to allow ourselves to remain in silence in order to create meaningful connection and appreciation. We can also use silence in our own lives as a way to bring peace and clarity of mind. Taking time out of the everyday routine to sit in silence and observe the beauty that is around us can be immensely beneficial for our mental and physical health.
Neruda’s poem “Me Gustas Cuando Callas” is a reminder of the power that silence holds. Though it is easy to forget, silence can be just as meaningful as words and can communicate love, understanding, and appreciation. This poem encourages us to strive to live in balance between silence and speech, to appreciate the beauty and peace of stillness, and to recognize the power of silence in our own lives.
Silence in the Natural World
Silence and stillness can also be appreciated in our natural world. One need only take a moment to appreciate the silence of a warm summer night, devoid of cars and pollution, or the feeling of being alone in a forest, surrounded by nothing but the sound of trees rustling in the wind. In occasions like these, it can be easy to forget the noise of the mundane and to realize the power of being still and being in the moment. It is moments like these, when we can appreciate the beauty of being present in the present, that we can recognize that sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is nothing at all.
An evening in the mountains, surrounded by nothing but nature, can serve as a reminder of just how powerful the language of silence can be. Experiencing a moment away from the hustle and bustle of life, when we are surrounded only by the beauty of nature and its silence, is something that can stay with us throughout our lives. These moments, once savored and appreciated, can offer us a reminder that sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is do nothing at all, and to realize the power of feeling still and being in the moment.
Silence in Modern Society
Neruda’s poem, in many ways, speaks to the current state of our world, where it seems the hustle and bustle of everyday life takes precedence over moments of stillness and peace. We are so attached to our devices and our technology that it can be difficult to take the time to appreciate the beauty of silence and the power of being still. To counteract this, it can be beneficial to take the time to unplug and to become one with the silence of our world, to be mindful of the quiet moments that are so often overlooked, and to remember the power of being still and being present in the present.
In the modern world, there is a growing appreciation for the power of silence. Many movements, such as silence retreats and meditation practice, have been created to offer people moments of stillness and self-reflection. There are even organizations like the International Quiet Time Association, which was established to help people cope with the stress and noise of daily life, and to encourage people to take moments for themselves in a quiet, observant state. In doing so, these movements, and organizations promote the power of silence as a way to bring peace, understanding, and clarity of mind.
Conclusion
In Pablo Neruda’s poem “Me Gustas Cuando Callas”, the speaker finds appreciation for their partner’s words and for the silence that lies between them. This poem reminds us of the power that silence can have and offers us a reminder that sometimes the most powerful words we can say are the ones we don’t say. We can use these sentiments in our own lives, taking moments of silence and stillness in order to create meaningful connection, understanding, and peace. From the quiet moments in nature, to the growing appreciation of stillness in modern movements and organizations, silence is becoming an increasingly important part of our lives. Neruda’s poem serves to remind us that sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is nothing at all.
