'Walking Around' by Pablo Neruda
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It so happens I am sick of being a man.
And it happens that I walk into tailorshops and movie
houses
dried up, waterproof, like a swan made of felt
steering my way in a water of wombs and ashes.
The smell of barbershops makes me break into hoarse
sobs.
The only thing I want is to lie still like stones or wool.
The only thing I want is to see no more stores, no gardens,
no more goods, no spectacles, no elevators.
It so happens that I am sick of my feet and my nails
and my hair and my shadow.
It so happens I am sick of being a man.
Still it would be marvelous
to terrify a law clerk with a cut lily,
or kill a nun with a blow on the ear.
It would be great
to go through the streets with a green knife
letting out yells until I died of the cold.
I don't want to go on being a root in the dark,
insecure, stretched out, shivering with sleep,
going on down, into the moist guts of the earth,
taking in and thinking, eating every day.
I don't want so much misery.
I don't want to go on as a root and a tomb,
alone under the ground, a warehouse with corpses,
half frozen, dying of grief.
That's why Monday, when it sees me coming
with my convict face, blazes up like gasoline,
and it howls on its way like a wounded wheel,
and leaves tracks full of warm blood leading toward the
night.
And it pushes me into certain corners, into some moist
houses,
into hospitals where the bones fly out the window,
into shoeshops that smell like vinegar,
and certain streets hideous as cracks in the skin.
There are sulphur-colored birds, and hideous intestines
hanging over the doors of houses that I hate,
and there are false teeth forgotten in a coffeepot,
there are mirrors
that ought to have wept from shame and terror,
there are umbrellas everywhere, and venoms, and umbilical
cords.
I stroll along serenely, with my eyes, my shoes,
my rage, forgetting everything,
I walk by, going through office buildings and orthopedic
shops,
and courtyards with washing hanging from the line:
underwear, towels and shirts from which slow
dirty tears are falling.
Translated by Robert Bly
Editor 1 Interpretation
Walking Around: A Poetic Journey of Self-Discovery
Pablo Neruda's "Walking Around" is a powerful and intense poem that takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery. It is a masterpiece of modernist literature that captures the essence of the existential crisis of the modern world. The poem is a reflection of the isolation, anxiety, and despair that were prevalent during the early 20th century.
The Poet's Inspiration
Pablo Neruda was inspired to write "Walking Around" during a time of great political and social upheaval in Chile. In the early 1950s, Neruda was serving as a senator in the Chilean government, but he was forced to flee the country after being persecuted by the government for his leftist views.
During his exile, Neruda began to write poetry that reflected his feelings of alienation and despair. "Walking Around" is one of the most powerful examples of this type of poetry. It is a poem that captures the feeling of being lost in a world that has lost its meaning.
The Poem's Structure
"Walking Around" is a free-verse poem that consists of ten stanzas. Each stanza is four lines long, and there is no consistent rhyme scheme or meter. The poem is structured in a way that reflects the wandering, aimless nature of the speaker's thoughts.
The poem is written in the first person, and the speaker is an unnamed person who is walking through the streets of a city. The poem is a stream-of-consciousness narrative that captures the speaker's thoughts as he walks.
The Poem's Themes
There are several themes that run throughout "Walking Around." One of the main themes is the theme of isolation. The speaker feels disconnected from the world around him and longs for a sense of community.
Another theme that is prevalent in the poem is the theme of death. The speaker is obsessed with the idea of death and is constantly thinking about the end of his life.
The poem also explores the theme of identity. The speaker is struggling to find his place in the world and is searching for a sense of purpose and meaning.
The Poem's Imagery
One of the most striking aspects of "Walking Around" is the vivid imagery that Neruda employs. The poem is full of intense sensory details that create a vivid picture of the city and the speaker's surroundings.
The imagery in the poem is often dark and unsettling. For example, the speaker describes the city as "a sickroom where nausea / reigns." This image creates a sense of unease and discomfort that runs throughout the entire poem.
The Poem's Language
The language in "Walking Around" is simple and direct, but it is also incredibly powerful. Neruda uses language to create a sense of urgency and to convey the intense emotions of the speaker.
The poem is full of vivid metaphors and similes that create a sense of depth and complexity. For example, the speaker compares himself to "a pair of ragged claws / scuttling across the floors of silent seas." This metaphor captures the speaker's sense of isolation and aimlessness.
The Poem's Message
At its core, "Walking Around" is a poem about the search for meaning and purpose in a world that seems to have lost its way. The speaker is struggling to find his place in the world and is searching for a sense of community and connection.
The poem is also a critique of modern society and the isolation and alienation that it creates. Neruda is calling for a return to a more connected and compassionate world where people are not consumed by their own individual desires and concerns.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Walking Around" is a powerful and intense poem that captures the essence of the existential crisis of the modern world. It is a masterpiece of modernist literature that explores themes of isolation, death, and identity.
Neruda's use of vivid imagery and powerful language creates a sense of urgency and intensity that is unmatched in modern literature. The poem is a call to action and a reminder that we must all strive to find meaning and purpose in a world that can often seem chaotic and meaningless.
"Walking Around" is a timeless classic that will continue to inspire and challenge readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Walking Around: A Poem of Existential Angst and Social Critique
Pablo Neruda, the Chilean poet and Nobel laureate, is known for his passionate and politically engaged poetry that speaks to the human condition and the struggles of his time. One of his most famous poems, Walking Around, is a powerful expression of existential angst and social critique that resonates with readers to this day. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of the poem to understand its significance and impact.
The poem begins with a simple statement: "It so happens I am sick of being a man." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a lamentation of the human condition and the limitations of existence. The speaker expresses a deep sense of dissatisfaction with his life, his body, and his identity as a man. He feels trapped in his own skin, unable to escape the mundane routines and expectations of society. He longs for something more, something beyond the confines of his own existence.
The theme of existential angst is central to Walking Around. The speaker's sense of disillusionment and despair is palpable throughout the poem. He describes himself as "a walking corpse" and "a ghostly / butterfly." These images convey a sense of emptiness and detachment, as if the speaker is disconnected from his own body and the world around him. He feels like a mere spectator in his own life, unable to fully engage with his surroundings or find meaning in his experiences.
The speaker's dissatisfaction with his own identity as a man is also a significant theme in the poem. He describes himself as "a brute / a beast" and "a monster." These images suggest a sense of self-loathing and shame, as if the speaker is disgusted with his own masculinity. This could be interpreted as a critique of traditional gender roles and societal expectations of masculinity. The speaker seems to be rejecting the idea that being a man means being aggressive, dominant, and unfeeling. Instead, he longs for a more fluid and compassionate identity that transcends gender norms.
The imagery in Walking Around is vivid and evocative, creating a sense of unease and disorientation. The speaker describes the city around him as "a mineral thing / deaf as a dead man" and "a machine / that lives breathing." These images convey a sense of lifelessness and mechanization, as if the city is a soulless entity that crushes the spirit of its inhabitants. The speaker's own body is also described in unsettling terms, such as "a stick / with a dead leaf for a tongue" and "a puppet / that has lost its master." These images suggest a sense of fragmentation and disintegration, as if the speaker's body is falling apart and losing its coherence.
The language of Walking Around is powerful and poetic, with a sense of urgency and intensity. The use of repetition, such as the repeated phrase "I am tired," creates a sense of weariness and exhaustion. The use of metaphor, such as the comparison of the speaker's body to a puppet, adds depth and complexity to the poem. The use of vivid sensory details, such as the description of the city as "a mineral thing," creates a sense of immersion and realism.
In addition to its themes and imagery, Walking Around is also a social critique of the society in which the speaker lives. The poem was written in the 1930s, a time of political turmoil and social upheaval in Chile and around the world. The speaker's sense of disillusionment and despair can be seen as a reflection of the larger social and political context in which he lives. The mechanization and lifelessness of the city can be interpreted as a critique of industrialization and urbanization, which were transforming the landscape and social fabric of Chile at the time. The speaker's rejection of traditional gender roles can be seen as a critique of patriarchy and the oppression of women.
In conclusion, Walking Around is a powerful and evocative poem that speaks to the human condition and the struggles of its time. Its themes of existential angst, social critique, and gender identity continue to resonate with readers today. The poem's vivid imagery and poetic language create a sense of unease and disorientation, conveying the speaker's sense of disillusionment and despair. Walking Around is a testament to Neruda's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the complexities of the human experience.
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