If You Forget Me/If I May Re-Imagine the Discovery of Fire

Inspired by Pablo Neruda's "If You Forget Me"

If I May Re-Imagine the Discovery of Fire

I want you to know
one thing.

You know how this is:
If I were to slowly
take in
the softly settling moon, the one leaf
that lights in autumn evenings, at my window
if I touch
these fondly worn sweaters
smelling of cedar in the chest
everything carries me to you
aromas, light, movements
were little boats
that sail
towards these isles of yours that knew me well.

Well, here
If little by little we stop reverberating
I will (as you may have) cease to remember.

If finally
you have forgotten
do not look for me
for I shall already have forgotten you.

If you think it silly and mad
these flailing arms of mine
that keep myself from sinking
and you deceive
to leave me just out of reach of your shores
my heart of hearts where I have far-reaching roots
remember
that on that day
at that hour
I shall lift up my arms
and my sinking heart will set off
to seek another land.

But
if each day
each hour
you feel that we are destined
with implacable tastes
(even to the most flawless palette)
if each day a scene
climbs to that window in your spirit to seek
me
ah, my lover, ah my stranger
in me all that senseless fire is true,
Although I wail, why oh why
in me is nothing extinguished
I know we, as humans, delight
on these feelings
but as long as we breathe it will be
living in your arms
without leaving mine.