Sonnet # 89, Pablo Neruda from Cien Sonetos de Amor

When I die, I want your hands on my eyes

I want the light and wheat of your beloved hands to pass their freshness over me once more

I want to feel the softness that changed my destiny.

I want you to live while I wait for you, asleep.

I want your ears still to hear the wind, I want you

to sniff the sea's aroma that we loved together,to continue to walk on the sand we walk on.

I want what I love to continue to live,

and you whom I love and sang above everything else

to continue to flourish, full-flowered:

so that you can reach everything my love directs you to.

so that my shadow can travel along in your hair.

so that everything can learn the reason for my song.