Saudade is a deep emotional state of longing for a person or thing that is absent. Saudade is a Portuguese and Galician term that has no direct equivalent in the English language. “Bitter sweet” is similar to saudade if lacking the poetic potency and aching beauty that saudade encompasses.
Saudade is a word thoroughly saturated with emotions – at once exquisite, melancholic, wistful, joyful and painful. As Manuel de Melo wrote, saudade is “a pleasure you suffer, an ailment you enjoy.”. Humans gladly give way to nostalgia and saudade as they let the passing and space of time add a soft patina to what has gone and allow the love that remains to weave a gentle cover of joy into their present.
To give way into memory/ allow the saudade to wash over me/ Feel the love that remains implore the vestiges that my shadows store/ I still sense the love despite the pain/ Retain the goodness that I gave and gained/ From then till now and forward still/ I’m grateful though the aching burns… ~ Ella
Isn’t saudade such a gorgeous word?! This weird space in time that the past few months have been have provided ample opportunities for saudade. While the aches may be real for who and what have passed through my life, the love that remains is what I like to truly hold onto. Life takes so many twists and turns, but the love always holds fast and true. What do you think of saudade?
Namaste ~ Ella
*Check out the Word Nerd Index and my Word Nerd Pinterest Board for other superb words!
** If there’s a word you’d like to see added to the Word Nerd roster, please feel free to contact me or suggest it in the comments – I love feedback and recommendations!
Lawhimsy 
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