Below I've posted the original poem, along with some other English translations I found around the internets and my versions as well.
Me gustas cuando callas (Pablo Neruda)
Me gustas cuando callas porque estás como ausente,
y me oyes desde lejos, y mi voz no te toca.
Parece que los ojos se te hubieren volado
y parece que un beso te cerrara la boca.
Como todas las cosas están llenas de mi alma
emerges de las cosas, llena de alma mía.
Mariposa de sueño, te pareces a mi alma,
y te pareces a la palabra melancolía.
Me gustas cuando callas y estás como distante.
Y estás como quejándote, mariposa en arrullo.
Y me oyes desde lejos, y mi voz no te alcanza:
Déjame que me calle con el silencio tuyo.
Déjame que te hable también con tu silencio
claro como una lámpara, simple como un anillo.
Eres como la noche, callada y constelada.
Tu silencio es de estrella, tan lejano y sencillo.
Me gustas cuando callas porque estás como ausente.
Distante y dolorosa como si hubieras muerto.
Una palabra entonces, una sonrisa bastan.
Y estoy alegre de que no sea cierto.
---
I Like for You to be Still (translation W.S. Merwin)
I like for you to be still: it is as though you were absent,
and you hear me from far away and my voice does not touch you.
It seems as though your eyes had flown away
and it seems that a kiss had sealed your mouth.
As all things are filled with my soul
you emerge from the things, filled with my soul.
You are like my soul, a butterfly of dream,
and you are like the word Melancholy.
I like for you to be still, and you seem far away.
It sounds as though you were lamenting, a butterfly cooing like a dove.
And you hear me from far away, and my voice does not reach you:
Let me come to be still in your silence.
And let me talk to you with your silence
that is bright as a lamp, simple as a ring.
You are like the night, with its stillness and constellations.
Your silence is that of a star, as remote and candid.
I like for you to be still: it is as though you were absent,
distant and full of sorrow as though you had died.
One word then, one smile, is enough.
And I am happy, happy that it's not true.
---
I Like You When You Are Quiet (translation by ?)
I like you when you are quiet because it is as though you are absent,
and you hear me from far away, and my voice does not touch you.
It looks as though your eyes had flown away
and it looks as if a kiss had sealed your mouth.
Like all things are full of my soul
You emerge from the things, full of my soul.
Dream butterfly, you look like my soul,
and you look like a melancoly word.
I like you when you are quiet and it is as though you are distant.
It is as though you are complaining, butterfly in lullaby.
And you hear me from far away, and my voice does not reach you:
let me fall quiet with your own silence.
Let me also speak to you with your silence
Clear like a lamp, simple like a ring.
You are like the night, quiet and constellated.
Your silence is of a star, so far away and solitary.
I like you when you are quiet because it is as though you are absent.
Distant and painful as if you had died.
A word then, a smile is enough.
And I am happy, happy that it is not true.
[http://thue.stanford.edu/jacquie/callas.html]
---
I like you calm, as if you were absent (translation by A.S. Kline)
I like you calm, as if you were absent,
and you hear me far-off, and my voice does not touch you.
It seems that your eyelids have taken to flying:
it seems that a kiss has sealed up your mouth.
Since all these things are filled with my spirit,
you come from things, filled with my spirit.
You appear as my soul, as the butterfly’s dreaming,
and you appear as Sadness’s word.
I like you calm, as if you were distant,
you are a moaning, a butterfly’s cooing.
You hear me far-off, my voice does not reach you.
Let me be calmed, then, calmed by your silence.
Let me commune, then, commune with your silence,
clear as a light, and pure as a ring.
You are like night, calmed, constellated.
Your silence is star-like, as distant, as true.
I like you calm, as if you were absent:
distant and saddened, as if you were dead.
One word at that moment, a smile, is sufficient.
And I thrill, then, I thrill: that it cannot be so.
[http://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Spanish/Neruda.htm#_Toc12957960]
---
I like you when you're still (my translation #1)
I like you when you’re still, when you seem far away,
when you hear my voice as a distant call.
It seems then that your eyes have taken flight,
and a kiss holds your lips in thrall.
My soul fills everything and from everything
you come brimming with my soul
You mirror my soul, dream butterfly
melancholia, the word made whole.
I like it when you’re still, when you’re not here.
You’re a plaintive murmur, a flutter, butterfly;
from far off you hear my voice:
Let me be quiet too, off where your silence lies.
When I speak, let me use your silence
Clear as lamplight and simple as a ring.
You’re like the night, still and full of stars
Your silence a constellation, a distant constant thing.
I like it when you’re still, when you’re far away.
Distant and pained, as if death held you near.
Then a word, a smile is enough.
I’m happy that no, love, you are here.
I like it when you're still (my translation #2)
I like you when you’re still,
when you seem far away,
when you hear my voice as a distant call.
It seems then that your eyes have taken flight,
and a kiss holds your lips in thrall.
My soul fills everything and from everything
you come brimming with my soul
You mirror my soul,
dream butterfly;
melancholia, the word made whole.
I like it when you’re still, when you’re not here.
You’re a plaintive murmur,
a flutter, butterfly.
From far off you hear my voice:
Shall I be quiet too, off where your silence lies.
Let my speech be eloquent as your silence:
clear as lamplight,
simple as a ring.
You’re like the night, still and full of stars.
Your silence a distant constant thing.
I like it when you’re still, when you’re far away.
Distant and pained,
as if death held you near.
Then a word, a smile is enough.
I’m happy that no, love, you are here.
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