'Enigmas' by Pablo Neruda

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You've asked me what the lobster is weaving there withhis golden feet?
I reply, the ocean knows this.
You say, what is the ascidia waiting for in its transparentbell? What is it waiting for?
I tell you it is waiting for time, like you.
You ask me whom the Macrocystis alga hugs in its arms?
Study, study it, at a certain hour, in a certain sea I know.
You question me about the wicked tusk of the narwhal,and I reply by describing
how the sea unicorn with the harpoon in it dies.
You enquire about the kingfisher's feathers,
which tremble in the pure springs of the southern tides?
Or you've found in the cards a new question touching onthe crystal architecture
of the sea anemone, and you'll deal that to me now?
You want to understand the electric nature of the oceanspines?The armored stalactite that breaks as it walks?The hook of the angler fish, the music stretched outin the deep places like a thread in the water?I want to tell you the ocean knows this, that life in itsjewel boxesis endless as the sand, impossible to count, pure,and among the blood-colored grapes time has made thepetalhard and shiny, made the jellyfish full of lightand untied its knot, letting its musical threads fallfrom a horn of plenty made of infinite mother-of-pearl.I am nothing but the empty net which has gone on aheadof human eyes, dead in those darknesses,of fingers accustomed to the triangle, longitudeson the timid globe of an orange.I walked around as you do, investigatingthe endless star,and in my net, during the night, I woke up naked,the only thing caught, a fish trapped inside the wind.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Exploring the Poetry of Pablo Neruda: An Enigmatic Masterpiece

When we think of poetry, we often think of words that flow like a river, carrying the reader on a journey of emotions and experiences. But what happens when the words themselves become enigmatic, mysterious, and even surreal? This is the territory that Pablo Neruda explores in his collection of poems titled "Enigmas."

As a Nobel laureate and one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, Neruda's work has been praised for its lyricism, political and social commentary, and its exploration of love and desire. But "Enigmas" takes us to a different dimension, where words are not just a means of expressing ideas, but a world in themselves.

The World of Enigmas

The poems in "Enigmas" are short, often comprising only a few lines, but they are packed with meaning and imagery. Neruda's language is rich and evocative, taking us on a journey through the surreal and the mysterious.

For instance, in "Enigma 17," Neruda writes:

I am not solitude, it walks with me,
not knowing where we are going.

These two lines seem simple enough, but they are also profound. The idea of solitude walking with the speaker creates a sense of companionship, but also implies a sense of disconnect, as if the speaker is not in control of their own life. The phrase "not knowing where we are going" adds to the sense of uncertainty and confusion.

In "Enigma 33," Neruda writes:

The tree is more than first a seed,
fire is not just sparks.

Here, Neruda is exploring the idea that everything in the world is more than what it seems at first glance. A tree is not just a tree, but a complex organism that grows from a tiny seed. Fire is not just a collection of sparks, but a powerful force that can destroy everything in its path.

The Power of Metaphor

One of the hallmarks of Neruda's poetry is his use of metaphor. He takes everyday objects and transforms them into symbols of something deeper and more profound.

For instance, in "Enigma 79," Neruda writes:

My feet are horses,
they gallop through the fields.

This is a simple and yet powerful metaphor. The speaker's feet become horses, giving them a sense of speed and power. The image of galloping through the fields creates a sense of freedom and release.

In "Enigma 41," Neruda writes:

The moon is a bell
in the silence it rings.

Here, Neruda uses the image of the moon to create a sense of sound. The moon becomes a bell, ringing out in the silence of the night. This metaphor not only creates a sense of sound, but also adds to the surreal and dreamlike quality of the poem.

The Language of Dreams

In many ways, the poems in "Enigmas" read like fragments of dreams. They are surreal, mysterious, and often defy logic. Neruda's language is not always straightforward, but instead takes us on a journey through a world of imagination and symbolism.

In "Enigma 95," Neruda writes:

You are the trembling of time,
which passes between vertical light
and darkened sky,
dimmed at the borders of night.

This is a beautiful and yet enigmatic passage. The image of the speaker being the "trembling of time" creates a sense of impermanence and fragility. The contrast between "vertical light" and "darkened sky" adds to the sense of tension and ambiguity.

In "Enigma 80," Neruda writes:

I go from loving to not loving you,
From waiting to not waiting for you
My heart moves from cold to fire.

These lines are both romantic and unsettling. The idea of the heart moving from "cold to fire" implies a sense of passion, but also a sense of unpredictability. The poem captures the feeling of being in love, but also the uncertainty and turmoil that can come with it.

The Political Context

While the poems in "Enigmas" are often surreal and mysterious, they are also grounded in a political context. Neruda was a passionate activist, and his poetry often reflects his commitment to social justice.

In "Enigma 29," Neruda writes:

The bird that sang in the night
was shot with the arrow of silence.

This is a powerful and haunting image. The bird represents freedom and the voice of the people, while the arrow represents censorship and oppression. The poem reminds us of the power of language and the importance of speaking out against injustice.

In "Enigma 89," Neruda writes:

I have dreamed of the land
where the streets have no name.

These lines may seem innocuous, but they are also political. The idea of streets with no name represents a world where everyone is equal, where there is no hierarchy or oppression. The poem is a call to action, a reminder that a better world is possible.

Conclusion

In "Enigmas," Pablo Neruda takes us on a journey through a world of mystery and symbolism. His poetry is both beautiful and enigmatic, full of metaphor and surreal imagery. But it is also grounded in a political context, reminding us of the power of language and the importance of speaking out against injustice.

"Enigmas" is a masterpiece of modern poetry, a collection of poems that challenges us to think deeply about the world around us. It is a work that will continue to inspire and captivate readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Pablo Neruda is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, and his work has inspired countless readers and writers around the world. Among his most famous works are the Poetry Enigmas, a series of short poems that are both enigmatic and deeply moving. In this article, we will explore the meaning and significance of these enigmas, and why they continue to captivate readers today.

The Poetry Enigmas were written in the early 1950s, during a period of great creativity for Neruda. They are short, often only a few lines long, and are characterized by their cryptic and elusive nature. Each enigma is like a puzzle, inviting the reader to decipher its hidden meaning. But despite their brevity and obscurity, the enigmas are also intensely emotional and evocative, conveying a sense of longing, loss, and wonder.

One of the most striking features of the Poetry Enigmas is their use of metaphor and imagery. Neruda was a master of metaphor, and he used it to great effect in these poems. For example, in Enigma 1, he writes:

"I am not sure of your hands, of your mouth, of your hair, silent and starving, I prowl through the streets."

Here, Neruda uses the image of a prowling animal to convey the speaker's sense of restlessness and hunger. The streets become a metaphor for the speaker's search for love and connection, and the silence of the beloved is a source of both frustration and fascination.

Similarly, in Enigma 2, Neruda writes:

"I want you to know one thing. You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if I touch near the fire the impalpable ash or the wrinkled body of the log, everything carries me to you, as if everything that exists, aromas, light, metals, were little boats that sail toward those isles of yours that wait for me."

Here, Neruda uses a series of vivid images to convey the speaker's sense of longing for the beloved. The moon, the autumn leaves, the fire, and the ash all become symbols of the speaker's desire, and the boats sailing towards the beloved's "isles" suggest a journey of discovery and exploration.

Another key feature of the Poetry Enigmas is their use of repetition and variation. Neruda often repeats certain phrases or images throughout the poems, but each repetition is slightly different, creating a sense of movement and progression. For example, in Enigma 3, he writes:

"I crave your mouth, your voice, your hair. Silent and starving, I prowl through the streets. Bread does not nourish me, dawn disrupts me, all day I hunt for the liquid measure of your steps."

Here, the repeated phrase "silent and starving" emphasizes the speaker's sense of hunger and longing, while the variation in the final line suggests a sense of movement and pursuit.

Similarly, in Enigma 4, Neruda writes:

Here, the repeated phrase "I want you to know one thing" creates a sense of urgency and intensity, while the variation in the images of the moon, the autumn leaves, and the fire suggests a progression towards a deeper understanding of the beloved.

Finally, it is worth noting the political and social context in which the Poetry Enigmas were written. Neruda was a committed Marxist and a passionate advocate for social justice, and his poetry often reflects his political beliefs. The enigmas, however, are more personal and introspective, and do not overtly address political issues. Nevertheless, they can be read as a reflection of the human desire for connection and meaning in a world that can often seem cold and indifferent.

In conclusion, the Poetry Enigmas are a testament to Neruda's skill as a poet and his ability to convey complex emotions and ideas in a few short lines. They are enigmatic and elusive, but also deeply moving and evocative. Through their use of metaphor, imagery, repetition, and variation, they create a sense of movement and progression, inviting the reader on a journey of discovery and exploration. And while they may not address political issues directly, they can be read as a reflection of the human condition, and the universal desire for love, connection, and meaning.

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