'Tonight I Can Write' by Pablo Neruda

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Tonight I can write the saddest lines.

Write, for example, 'The night is starry
and the stars are blue and shiver in the distance.'

The night wind revolves in the sky and sings.

Tonight I can write the saddest lines.
I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too.

Through nights like this one I held her in my arms.
I kissed her again and again under the endless sky.

She loved me, sometimes I loved her too.
How could one not have loved her great still eyes.

Tonight I can write the saddest lines.
To think that I do not have her. To feel that I have lost her.

To hear the immense night, still more immense without her.
And the verse falls to the soul like dew to the pasture.

What does it matter that my love could not keep her.
The night is starry and she is not with me.

This is all. In the distance someone is singing. In the distance.
My soul is not satisfied that it has lost her.

My sight tries to find her as though to bring her closer.
My heart looks for her, and she is not with me.

The same night whitening the same trees.
We, of that time, are no longer the same.

I no longer love her, that's certain, but how I loved her.
My voice tried to find the wind to touch her hearing.

Another's. She will be another's. As she was before my kisses.
Her voice, her bright body. Her infinite eyes.

I no longer love her, that's certain, but maybe I love her.
Love is so short, forgetting is so long.

Because through nights like this one I held her in my arms
my soul is not satisfied that it has lost her.

Though this be the last pain that she makes me suffer
and these the last verses that I write for her.


translated by W.S. Merwin

Editor 1 Interpretation

Tonight I Can Write: A Masterpiece of Love and Sorrow

Introduction

When it comes to love poetry, few can match the eloquence of Pablo Neruda - the Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet who captured the hearts of millions with his evocative style and vivid imagery. In "Tonight I Can Write," Neruda takes us on a journey of love and loss, longing and regret, as he muses on a past relationship that was both beautiful and painful. This classic poem has endured the test of time and remains a powerful ode to the complexities of human emotion.

A Closer Look at the Poem

Let's dive deeper into "Tonight I Can Write" and explore the themes, symbolism, and literary devices that make it a masterpiece of modern poetry.

The Theme of Love and Loss

At its core, "Tonight I Can Write" is a poem about love and loss - the two sides of the same coin that often define our most profound emotional experiences. Neruda paints a picture of a past relationship that was filled with passion and tenderness, yet ultimately ended in heartache and sorrow. The poem is a reflection on the bittersweet memories that linger long after the love has faded away.

Neruda's use of imagery and metaphor is particularly effective in conveying the complexities of this theme. He describes the stars as "blue and alive" and the night as "full of stars and shivering blue." These images suggest a sense of wonder and beauty that is often associated with love, while also hinting at the melancholy and loneliness that comes with its absence. The repeated use of the word "tonight" also underscores the passing of time and the fleeting nature of love.

The Symbolism of Nature

Nature is a recurring motif in "Tonight I Can Write," serving as a powerful symbol of the emotions and experiences that the speaker is grappling with. The stars, the night sky, the wind, and the sea all represent different facets of love and loss, adding depth and complexity to the poem.

For example, the stars are often associated with hope and inspiration, yet in this poem, they also symbolize the pain of separation and the memory of lost love. The night sky, with its vastness and mystery, represents the unknown future and the possibility of new beginnings. The wind, which "weeps" and "carries off" the speaker's words, suggests a sense of futility and helplessness in the face of loss. And the sea, with its waves that "break and spill their waters," represents the ebb and flow of emotions that are so often a part of love.

The Literary Devices

Neruda is a master of literary devices, and "Tonight I Can Write" is no exception. Here are some of the key techniques that he employs in the poem:

• Repetition: The repeated use of the word "tonight" underscores the passing of time and the fleeting nature of love. The repetition of phrases like "I loved her" and "she loved me" emphasizes the intensity of the relationship and the pain of its loss.

• Imagery: Neruda's use of vivid imagery helps to create a rich sensory experience for the reader. We can almost feel the "shivering blue" of the night sky and the "salt-heavy" sea air.

• Metaphor: The stars, the night sky, the wind, and the sea are all used as metaphors to represent the emotions and experiences that the speaker is grappling with.

• Personification: The wind is personified as a weeping, sorrowful presence that "carries off" the speaker's words.

• Symbolism: Nature is used as a powerful symbol of the complexities of love and loss.

The Mood and Tone

The mood and tone of "Tonight I Can Write" are melancholy and nostalgic, yet also tinged with a sense of hope and possibility. The speaker is clearly grappling with the pain of lost love, yet he is also able to find some solace in the memories that he holds dear. The use of repetition, imagery, and metaphor all contribute to this mood, creating a sense of wistful longing that is both beautiful and heartbreaking.

Conclusion

In "Tonight I Can Write," Pablo Neruda has crafted a poem that remains a timeless tribute to the complexities of human emotion. Through his use of vivid imagery, powerful symbolism, and masterful literary devices, Neruda explores the themes of love and loss with a depth and sensitivity that is rare in modern poetry. This masterpiece of love and sorrow serves as a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the beauty and pain of the human experience.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Tonight I Can Write: A Poem of Love and Loss

Pablo Neruda, the Chilean poet, is known for his passionate and emotional poetry. His works often explore themes of love, nature, and politics. One of his most famous poems, "Tonight I Can Write," is a powerful expression of love and loss.

The poem begins with the speaker stating that tonight he can write the saddest lines. The opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with melancholy and heartache. The speaker then goes on to describe how he loved and lost a woman, and how he is now left with only memories of their time together.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's emotions. In the first stanza, the speaker describes how he loved the woman. He talks about how her voice was like music, and how her eyes were like stars. He also describes how they would walk together, holding hands, and how he would kiss her under the sky.

The second stanza is where the poem takes a darker turn. The speaker describes how the woman left him, and how he is now alone. He talks about how he can no longer hold her or kiss her, and how he is left with only memories of their time together. He also describes how he feels like he is drowning in his own tears, and how he wishes he could forget her.

The final stanza is perhaps the most powerful of the poem. The speaker describes how he is writing this poem, and how he is able to express his emotions through his words. He talks about how he is able to remember the woman, and how he is able to feel her presence through his writing. He also describes how he knows that he will never forget her, and how he will always love her.

Throughout the poem, Neruda uses vivid imagery and metaphors to convey the speaker's emotions. The use of music and stars to describe the woman's voice and eyes, respectively, creates a sense of beauty and wonder. The image of the speaker drowning in his own tears is a powerful metaphor for his overwhelming sadness. And the use of writing as a way to remember and express his emotions is a poignant reminder of the power of words.

One of the most interesting aspects of the poem is the way in which it explores the theme of memory. The speaker is able to remember the woman and their time together, but he is also haunted by those memories. He wishes he could forget her, but he knows that he never will. This tension between remembering and forgetting is a common theme in Neruda's poetry, and it is one that resonates with many readers.

Another important theme in the poem is the idea of love as a force that transcends time and space. The speaker's love for the woman is so strong that it is able to survive even after she has left him. He is able to feel her presence through his writing, and he knows that he will always love her. This idea of love as a timeless and eternal force is a powerful one, and it is one that has resonated with readers for generations.

In conclusion, "Tonight I Can Write" is a powerful and emotional poem that explores the themes of love and loss. Neruda's use of vivid imagery and metaphors creates a sense of beauty and wonder, while his exploration of memory and love as a timeless force adds depth and complexity to the poem. This is a poem that speaks to the heart, and it is one that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.

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