Take bread away from me, if you wish,
take air away,
but do not take from me your laughter.
Do not take away the rose,
the lance flower that you pluck,
the water that suddenly
bursts forth in joy,
the sudden wave
of silver born in you.
My struggle is harsh and I come back
with eyes tired
at times from having seen
the unchanging earth,
but when your laughter enters
it rises to the sky seeking me
and it opens for me all
the doors of life.
Next to the sea in the autumn,
your laughter must raise
its foamy cascade,
and in the spring, love,
I want your laughter like
the flower I was waiting for,
the blue flower, the rose
of my echoing country.
Laugh at the night,
at the day, at the moon,
laugh at the twisted
streets of the island,
laugh at this clumsy
boy who loves you,
but when I open
my eyes and close them,
when my steps go,
when my steps return,
deny me bread, air,
light, spring,
but never your laughter
for I would die.
~Pablo Neruda
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. ~Job 8:21 ✝
**Images via Pinterest
Sacred Touches 
Always love pictures of kids smiles!
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Me too, Pete. There’s just so much joy in their smiles! Hugs, N 🙂 ❤
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thank you for the joy you inspire—
Hugs and love–Julie
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You are very welcome, my friend. Much love and huge hugs to you. N 🙂 ❤
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Absolutely stunning! This truly made me smile…the beauty of both poetry and innocence 🙂
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Thank you, Zara. I’m so glad it brought a smile to you. I love Pable Neruda’s poetry and this in one of my favorites.
I think there is always a lot of innocent joy in laughter regardless of how old we become. Hugs, N 🙂 ❤
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Interesting poetry on Laughter, increased zeal on knowing the in-depth thoughts behind each sentence, well chosen the pictures for this concept, thanks for sharing dear Natalie 🙂 have a great evening 🙂
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You are very welcome, Radha. Pablo Neruda is one of my favoite poets and this is one of my favorite poems. I pray you have a lovely evening too. Hugs, N 🙂 ❤
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What a beautiful poem and lovely lovely picture! 🙂 I love this post! ❤
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Thank you, Trini. I’m so glad you enjoyed the picture and post. when I found them I thought all the children’s laughing photos were sweet and full of joy and life. Huge hugs and much love, N 🙂 ❤
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Wonderful post Natalie: I’ve found this quote by Maya Angelou
“I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t laugh.” – I think it’s very true.
“Laugh at the night,
at the day, at the moon..”
Oh oui, rions et sourions,
Humour, amour
Les deux ailes
du Bonheur
Merci Natalie! Have a nice week ♥
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Humor and love to the two wings of happiness-what an exquisite and accurate comment, Cher! You have such a great heart! I’m so glad you enjoyed my post. I pray you’re enjoying your weekend! Hugs and love. Je t’aime. N 🙂 ❤
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A healing balm to my heart. ♡
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Thank you, Lisa. I’m so glad it was and pray that the healing continues. Hugs, N 🙂 ❤
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Thank you so very much! Have a great day!
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I absolutely love, but love these photos N. Especially the one of the right of the (Indian? Sri Lankan? Pakistani?) boy and girl. Just simply divine. And there is something just simply pure and innocent of a child’s laughter.
Beautiful.
🙂 ❤
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Thank you, Staci. I adore that photo too and started to use it by itself because it is so precious! I’d love to know those two children. And you are so right. The laughter of children is simply pure and innocent! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post and thank you for you comment. Hugs, N 🙂 ❤
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A beautiful message. Adults never laugh enough which is so sad. We need to see how children laugh and enjoy their world and bring it into our adult worlds. 😀
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Absolutely we do, Raewyn. I laugh pretty easily and heartily and love being around people who make me laugh. Hugs, N 🙂 ❤
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Beautiful message here! 😀
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Thank you Michelle Marie! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Hugs and love, N 🙂 ❤
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The poems combined with the scripture they point us in the direction we must go…to listen to that echo that will lead us where we re really do belong. To be a citizen of a place filled with laughter and joy is something I forget…something so precious.
Thank you for this beautiful post!
Hugs and Blessings,
Theresa
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I loved your comment. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Hugs, N 🙂
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So divine are these sunshine smiles. Love this. The poem is also equally beautiful and thoughtful. Hats off! 🙂
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Thank you; I’m so glad you enjoyed the post and the smiling children. Blessings, Natalie 🙂 ❤
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Oh my, dear Natalie! Your poetry is magical! ♥ Were you an English teacher?
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Oh I only wish this were my poem! Pablo Neruda is the author as noted at the end, and he is one of my favorite
poets. I was an English for about half my career and then I taught only Spanish! You and so many others have asked me the same question. I guess my years teaching English
left an imprint, huh?! 🙂
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I am tired tonight so I guess that’s how I missed your note that the poem was by Pablo Nerudo. Perhaps I was so taken with it because it rang familiar and magically in my tired brain as I was also a Spanish teacher! What a lovely coincidence, no?! Buenas noches ♥
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Es verdad! Se trata de una preciosa coincidencia! Buenas noches. ❤
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