The sensual imagery and heartbreaking verse in this collection have inspired lovers and lovers of poetry for nearly a century. Published in 1924, when Pablo Neruda was only twenty years old, his sensuous use of nature symbolism to celebrate love and to express grief has not been surpassed in the literature of our century. This edition offers the original Spanish text, with masterly translations by W.S. Merwin on facing pages. The book has sold more than 20 million copies and remains the best selling poetry book in the Spanish language ever.