From Montreal, congratulations, bravo, thanks, for this moving essay-article.

I am also one of the thousands and thousands of people that hold Neruda close, dear. I heard his last reading at the 92nd Street Y... Co organized an Homage to him back in 73 at Richmond College of CUNY. He helped my Mexican family too, during and after WWII.
He wrote a poem to my muralist uncle when he was in jail in Mexico in the 60's....

Both my daughter's and son's wedding ceremonies included the reading of a Neruda love poem....

My grandsons have been introduced to him by way of the Odes.....