'Love' by Pablo Neruda


AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay


What's wrong with you, with us,
what's happening to us?
Ah our love is a harsh cord
that binds us wounding us
and if we want
to leave our wound,
to separate,
it makes a new knot for us and condemns us
to drain our blood and burn together.

What's wrong with you? I look at you
and I find nothing in you but two eyes
like all eyes, a mouth
lost among a thousand mouths that I have kissed, more beautiful,
a body just like those that have slipped
beneath my body without leaving any memory.

And how empty you went through the world
like a wheat-colored jar
without air, without sound, without substance!
I vainly sought in you
depth for my arms
that dig, without cease, beneath the earth:
beneath your skin, beneath your eyes,
nothing,
beneath your double breast scarcely
raised
a current of crystalline order
that does not know why it flows singing.
Why, why, why,
my love, why?

Editor 1 Interpretation

“Love” by Pablo Neruda: A Study of Passion and Devotion

When it comes to love poetry, few writers have reached the heights of Pablo Neruda. The Chilean poet is celebrated for his ability to capture the essence of love in words that are both simple and profound. One of his most famous poems is simply titled “Love” and it is a masterpiece of romantic poetry.

In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the nuances of Neruda’s poem, “Love”. I will examine the themes, symbolism, and rhythm of the poem to offer a deeper understanding of the passion and devotion that Neruda so vividly captures.

The Themes of “Love”

At its core, “Love” is a celebration of the beauty of love. Neruda’s poem is unapologetically romantic and sensual, with a focus on the physical and emotional aspects of love. Throughout the poem, Neruda describes love as a force that is all-encompassing and transformative.

One of the key themes of “Love” is the idea that love is a powerful force that can transform individuals and the world around them. Neruda writes, “love is so short, forgetting is so long” - a phrase that captures the transformative and enduring nature of love.

Another theme of the poem is the idea that love is a universal experience that transcends time and place. Neruda’s poetry is rooted in the natural world, and he often uses nature to describe the beauty of love. The poem is an ode to love in all its forms, from the intensity of the first flush of romance to the enduring devotion of a lifelong partnership.

The Symbolism in “Love”

Neruda’s use of symbolism in “Love” is both subtle and powerful. Throughout the poem, he uses imagery to convey the depth of his passion and the beauty of his love.

One of the most striking examples of symbolism in the poem is the use of the color red. Neruda writes, “love is an arrow, a fiery arrow / the reddest of the red, it pierces my heart”. The color red is often associated with passion and desire and Neruda uses it to symbolize the intensity of his love.

Another example of symbolism in the poem is the use of the metaphor of a ship. Neruda writes, “my soul is aboard, / it has been aboard since I was born, / it goes wherever I go, / and it will go as far as I go”. The ship is a metaphor for the soul, and Neruda uses it to describe the enduring nature of his love.

The Rhythm of “Love”

Neruda’s poetry is known for its musicality, and “Love” is no exception. The poem has a rhythmic quality that adds to its emotional impact.

The poem is structured in four stanzas, each with four lines. The first two lines of each stanza begin with “Love is…” and the third and fourth lines offer a description of love.

The poem has a strong iambic pentameter, with ten syllables per line. This gives the poem a musicality that is both soothing and passionate.

Conclusion: A Masterpiece of Romantic Poetry

In conclusion, “Love” is a masterpiece of romantic poetry that celebrates the beauty and transformative power of love. Neruda’s use of themes, symbolism, and rhythm combine to create a poem that is both simple and profound.

The poem is a testament to the enduring nature of love and the ways in which it can transform individuals and the world around them. It is a reminder that, no matter what challenges we face in life, love is a force that can sustain us and give us hope.

As a reader, it is impossible not to be moved by the passion and devotion that Neruda captures in “Love”. It is a poem that speaks to the very heart of what it means to be human, and it is a testament to the power of love to inspire and transform us.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Love is a classic poem written by the renowned Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda. This poem is a beautiful and passionate expression of love that has captured the hearts of readers for generations. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this poem, exploring its themes, imagery, and language.

The poem Love is a celebration of the power and intensity of love. Neruda begins the poem by describing love as a force that cannot be contained or controlled. He writes, "Love is so short, forgetting is so long." This line captures the idea that love is fleeting, but its impact can last a lifetime. Even when love is gone, the memory of it lingers on, haunting us with its beauty and intensity.

Throughout the poem, Neruda uses vivid and sensual imagery to convey the depth of his love. He writes, "I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close." These lines are a beautiful expression of the all-encompassing nature of love. Neruda's love is not limited by time, place, or circumstance. It is a love that transcends all boundaries and connects two people in a way that is both physical and emotional.

One of the most striking aspects of this poem is the way in which Neruda uses language to convey the intensity of his emotions. His words are passionate and raw, conveying a sense of urgency and desperation. He writes, "I love you as one loves certain obscure things, secretly, between the shadow and the soul." This line captures the idea that love is often hidden and mysterious, existing in the spaces between our thoughts and feelings. It is a love that is both powerful and fragile, existing in a delicate balance between light and darkness.

Another important theme in this poem is the idea of surrender. Neruda writes, "I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride." These lines convey the idea that love is not something that can be controlled or manipulated. It is a force that takes hold of us and demands our surrender. In order to truly love someone, we must let go of our ego and our need for control, allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and open to the experience of love.

Overall, Love is a beautiful and powerful poem that captures the essence of love in all its complexity and beauty. Neruda's words are a testament to the power of love to transform us, to connect us, and to inspire us. This poem is a timeless expression of the human experience of love, and it continues to resonate with readers today. Whether we are experiencing the joy of love or the pain of its absence, Love reminds us of the power and beauty of this most human of emotions.

Editor Recommended Sites

Prompt Ops: Prompt operations best practice for the cloud
LLM Finetuning: Language model fine LLM tuning, llama / alpaca fine tuning, enterprise fine tuning for health care LLMs
Build packs - BuildPack Tutorials & BuildPack Videos: Learn about using, installing and deploying with developer build packs. Learn Build packs
Prompt Engineering Guide: Guide to prompt engineering for chatGPT / Bard Palm / llama alpaca
Learn Sparql: Learn to sparql graph database querying and reasoning. Tutorial on Sparql

Recommended Similar Analysis

Miracles by Walt Whitman analysis
Western Wind by Anonymous Works analysis
Children's Song by R.S. Thomas analysis
Sestina : Altaforte by Ezra Pound analysis
We Grow Accustomed To The Dark by Emily Dickinson analysis
Sonnet LV by William Shakespeare analysis
Mannahatta by Walt Whitman analysis
Riprap by Gary Snyder analysis
To A Young Girl by William Butler Yeats analysis
A Fence by Carl Sandburg analysis