Customer Reviews

Full Woman, Fleshly Apple, Hot Moon: Selected Poems of Pablo Neruda (P.S.)

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Having been interested in Neruda since seeing the movie "Il Postino," I've glanced at several collections for over 3 years, but never took a book home for my own. Looking for a collection that contained "Ode to Laziness" (one of my favorite subjects), I found and purchased Full Woman, Fleshly Apple, Hot Moon. I sat down in a big chair on a Sunday afternoon and opened it to the first page and the love affair started there. Usually, I read a book of poems randomly, just flipping here and there, looking for whatever surprizes me. For some unknown reason, I started this book from the beginning with Mitchell's introduction, then read the first poem. I couldn't help myself as I read one poem and then another till I had carefully read almost every one. Pure spirit, pure soul. Each poem is a love poem to the most simple, everyday, ordinary things of this world--his suit, his socks, his watch--engaging us to see a sheer web of grace that runs through out our lives. Put another way, Neruda sees and shows us a world that shimmers and loves us as fully as we love it.

Many thanks to S. Mitchell for creating this collection.

Stephen Mitchell translates an assortment of Neruda's lesser known poems that rank among his personal favorites. You can tell Mitchell truly loves these works as Neruda's voice almost literally sings off the page in English. The book itself is beautifully constructed with a painting by Gaugin adorning the cover. When you hold it in your hands, you will know you have discovered something truly special. You may also be interested in Mitchell's lovely translations of Rilke.

I am a true lover of the work of Pablo Neruda and have perused many
translated works of the famous Chilean poet.
Stephen Mitchell's translations are by far the most eloquent I have found. I feel they best convey the many moods of Pablo Neruda. The writer is able to capture the most intense feelings in the poet's writing better than any I have read. Thank you Stephen Mitchell.

I love Pablo Neruda. The translations were accurate and the book is well laid out. the spanish on one side and the english on the other. Not a love poem book though. More about all the beauty in the tangible world. i.e ode to salt

I just rediscovered this gem in my storage trunk and if you love reading Neruda, you will love listening to his poems as well. Its a whole different experience. Close your eyes (but first hit 'play!), and prepare to be transported.

This is a lovely translation, but then I think of them all as good. There is no comparison for me to any other poet. Keep this or any of his books near your bed to understand the earth, sea, mountains, love, stones, earth, grace, redemption, cats, neighbors, friends, etc. The depth and breadth is expansive and this is a "sweet" book.

What is an ode? Read this book and you'll find out, many times. Whether a jaguar in a cage, a group of horses on a cold day, a watermelon in summer, a child's foot (that thinks it's a piece of fruit or a butterfly)... you will know. On top of that, you will come to understand all of these thoughts in Spanish, even if you don't know the language. Each poem is translated, side by side. The fellow who compiled and translated this presents a life-enriching collection!

I love you as the plant that doesn't bloom and carries
hidden within itself the light of those flowers,
and thanks to your love, darkly in my body
lives the dense fragrance that rises from the earth.
~Neruda

After reading "Full Woman, Fleshy Apple, Hot Moon" and The Essential Neruda: Selected Poems I must say that I found something in each book to love. After now experiencing Neruda's more general poems I've also decided that I love Neruda's love poems best. Three of the poems in this book I also enjoyed were about animals. The "Ode to a Black Panther" is sad and the poem about horses, mysterious. I also liked "Cat's Dream." If you are trying to decided between the two books I'd buy The Essential Neruda first as that is really my favorite.

"The best of the ocean calls me
to myself"

~The Rebecca Review