Drift Quote by Pablo Neruda
““Don't go far off, not even for a day, because I don't know how to say it - a day is long and I will be waiting for you, as in an empty station when the trains are parked off somewhere else, asleep. Don't leave me, even for an hour, because then the little drops of anguish will all run together, the smoke that roams looking for a home will drift into me, choking my lost heart. Oh, may your silhouette never dissolve on the beach, may your eyelids never flutter into the empty distance. Don't LEAVE me for a second, my dearest, because in that moment you'll have gone so far I'll wander mazily over all the earth, asking, will you come back? Will you leave me here, dying?””
About This Quote
Source Poem: 20 Love Poems and a Song of Despair, Pablo Neruda, 1924
A lover pleads for constant presence, fearing abandonment will cause overwhelming sorrow and loss of self.
In simple terms: Fear of being left alone causes deep pain.
Key Takeaway
Cherish and reassure loved ones.
Themes
love
loneliness
fear
longing
Mood
melancholic
yearning
intense
Type
poetic
emotional
romantic
When to use this quote
- long-distance relationships
- breakups
- separation anxiety
- reassurance conversations
Key Concepts
attachment
existential dread
emotional dependence
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this fear reveal about your self‑worth?
- How can you balance closeness with personal space?
A Different Perspective
The intensity may be exaggerated for poetic effect, not reflecting healthy boundaries.
