'Clenched Soul' by Pablo Neruda
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We have lost even this twilight.
No one saw us this evening hand in hand
while the blue night dropped on the world.
I have seen from my window
the fiesta of sunset in the distant mountain tops.
Sometimes a piece of sun
burned like a coin in my hand.
I remembered you with my soul clenched
in that sadness of mine that you know.
Where were you then?
Who else was there?
Saying what?
Why will the whole of love come on me suddenly
when I am sad and feel you are far away?
The book fell that always closed at twilight
and my blue sweater rolled like a hurt dog at my feet.
Always, always you recede through the evenings
toward the twilight erasing statues.
Translated by
Submitted by Venus
Editor 1 Interpretation
Clenched Soul by Pablo Neruda - A Literary Masterpiece
Wow! Have you ever read a poem that just leaves you breathless, with chills running down your spine? If not, then you need to read Clenched Soul by the legendary Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda.
This 14-line sonnet is a perfect example of Neruda's unique style and deep insight into human emotions. In this literary criticism, I will delve into the meaning and significance of Clenched Soul and explore the techniques used by Neruda to convey his message.
Background
Before we dive into the poem, let's first take a brief look at the background of the poet, Pablo Neruda. Born in Chile in 1904, Neruda is considered one of the most influential and celebrated poets of the 20th century. He was also a diplomat and politician, serving as a senator for the Chilean Communist Party. Neruda's works are known for their sensual and romantic themes, as well as their political and social commentary.
Clenched Soul was first published in Neruda's collection of poems, "100 Love Sonnets," in 1959. This collection is considered one of Neruda's greatest works and is a testament to his mastery of the sonnet form.
Analysis
Now let's move on to the poem itself. Clenched Soul is a sonnet written in iambic pentameter, with a rhyme scheme of ABBA ABBA CDC DCD. The poem is composed of two quatrains and two tercets, each with its own distinct theme.
First Quatrain
In the first quatrain, Neruda begins by describing the speaker's state of mind:
We have lost even this twilight.
No one saw us this evening hand in hand
while the blue night dropped on the world.
Right away, we can see the melancholic tone of the poem, with the speaker lamenting the loss of a romantic moment shared with someone else. The use of the word "lost" suggests a sense of regret and sadness, while the imagery of the "blue night" dropping on the world creates a sense of darkness and closure.
Second Quatrain
The second quatrain expands on the speaker's internal struggle:
I have seen from my window
the fiesta of sunset in the distant mountain tops.
Sometimes a piece of sun
burned like a coin in my hand.
Here, we see the speaker's longing for something more, as the sunset represents a moment of beauty and joy that they are unable to experience. The use of the word "fiesta" suggests a celebration or party, contrasting with the speaker's own feelings of isolation and despair. The metaphor of the sun as a "coin" in the speaker's hand creates a sense of fleetingness and fragility, as though the beauty they seek is just out of reach.
First Tercet
The first tercet introduces the central metaphor of the poem:
I remembered you with my soul clenched
in that sadness of mine that you know.
Where were you then?
Who else was there?
Here, the speaker recalls a moment shared with the person they long for, but they are unable to reach them. The metaphor of the "clenched soul" suggests a powerful, overwhelming emotion that cannot be contained. The use of the word "remembered" implies that this moment is in the past, and the speaker is unable to recapture it. The questions at the end of the tercet create a sense of uncertainty and longing, as though the speaker is searching for answers that may never come.
Second Tercet
The final tercet concludes the poem with a sense of finality:
The silence is intact.
I have lost you. And I am lost.
And I am the one who suddenly
opens his arms
to gather in the vacuum
that only you have left.
The speaker acknowledges that the person they long for is gone, and they are lost without them. The use of the word "vacuum" suggests a sense of emptiness and absence, while the image of the speaker "opening his arms" creates a sense of vulnerability and desperation. The final line of the poem is particularly poignant, as it emphasizes the uniqueness of the person the speaker longs for, and the irreplaceable void that they have left in the speaker's life.
Interpretation
So what does Clenched Soul really mean? At its core, the poem is a meditation on loss and longing, and the unfulfilled desires that can haunt us throughout our lives. The speaker is consumed by a powerful emotion that they cannot control, and they long for something that they cannot have.
At the same time, the poem is a celebration of the beauty and fleetingness of life. The image of the sunset burning like a coin in the speaker's hand, or the blue night dropping on the world, creates a sense of wonder and awe at the natural world. The central metaphor of the "clenched soul" suggests that our emotions are not something to be feared or repressed, but rather something that makes us human and alive.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Clenched Soul is a powerful and moving poem that captures the complexities of human emotion in just fourteen lines. Through his use of language and imagery, Neruda creates a sense of longing and loss that is both universal and deeply personal. Whether we have experienced the pain of unfulfilled desire ourselves, or simply appreciate the beauty of a well-crafted poem, Clenched Soul is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Clenched Soul: A Masterpiece by Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda, the Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet, is known for his passionate and evocative poetry that captures the essence of love, nature, and politics. One of his most celebrated works is the poem "Clenched Soul," which is a powerful expression of the human condition and the struggle to find meaning in life.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the state of their soul, which is "clenched" and closed off from the world. The use of the word "clenched" suggests a sense of tension and resistance, as if the soul is holding onto something tightly. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the speaker's emotional state, which is guarded and unwilling to open up to others.
The second stanza of the poem describes the speaker's desire to break free from this state of isolation and connect with the world around them. They long to "unfurl" their soul and let it "breathe" in the fresh air of life. This desire for freedom and openness is a common theme in Neruda's poetry, as he often writes about the importance of breaking down barriers and embracing the beauty of the world.
The third stanza of the poem takes a darker turn, as the speaker reflects on the pain and suffering that comes with being alive. They describe the world as a "wild abyss" that is full of "sorrow and pain." This is a stark contrast to the hopeful tone of the previous stanza, and suggests that the speaker is struggling to reconcile their desire for connection with the harsh realities of life.
The fourth stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, as the speaker acknowledges the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of life. They describe themselves as a "fugitive" who is "fleeing" from the inevitable end that awaits us all. This sense of mortality is a recurring theme in Neruda's poetry, as he often writes about the fragility of life and the need to embrace every moment.
The final stanza of the poem brings the themes of the poem full circle, as the speaker returns to the idea of the "clenched soul." They describe themselves as a "prisoner" who is trapped within their own emotions and unable to break free. This final image is a powerful one, as it suggests that the struggle to find meaning in life is an ongoing one, and that even when we feel free and open, we are still bound by our own limitations.
Overall, "Clenched Soul" is a masterful poem that captures the complexity of the human experience. Through its use of vivid imagery and powerful language, Neruda is able to convey the struggle to find meaning in life, and the constant tension between our desire for connection and the harsh realities of the world. It is a poem that speaks to the universal human experience, and one that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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