Poema 20

Chavela Vargas' rendition of 'Poema 20' is a poignant exploration of love and loss, originally penned by the renowned Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. The song delves into the depths of sorrow and nostalgia, capturing the essence of a love that once was but is no more. The opening lines, 'Puedo escribir los versos más tristes esta noche,' set the tone for a night filled with melancholic reflection. The imagery of a starry night and the singing wind creates a backdrop that contrasts the inner turmoil of the speaker, who is grappling with the pain of lost love.

The lyrics reveal a complex relationship where love was once mutual but has since faded. The speaker reminisces about the moments of affection shared under the infinite sky, only to be reminded that those moments now belong to the past. The line 'Es tan corto el amor, y es tan largo el olvido' encapsulates the fleeting nature of love and the enduring pain of forgetting. This juxtaposition of brief love and prolonged sorrow is a central theme, highlighting the emotional struggle of moving on from a significant relationship.

Throughout the song, there is a recurring theme of contradiction and unresolved feelings. The speaker oscillates between acceptance and lingering affection, as seen in the lines 'Ya no la quiero, es cierto, pero tal vez la quiero.' This ambivalence underscores the difficulty of letting go, even when one acknowledges that the relationship has ended. The song concludes with a sense of finality, as the speaker resigns to the fact that these may be the last verses written for the lost love, yet the pain remains palpable. Chavela Vargas' emotive delivery adds an extra layer of depth, making 'Poema 20' a timeless reflection on the bittersweet nature of love and loss.