'To See Him Again' by Gabriela Mistral
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Never, never again?
Not on nights filled with quivering stars,
or during dawn's maiden brightness
or afternoons of sacrifice?Or at the edge of a pale path
that encircles the farmlands,
or upon the rim of a trembling fountain,
whitened by a shimmering moon?Or beneath the forest's
luxuriant, raveled tresses
where, calling his name,
I was overtaken by the night?
Not in the grotto that returns
the echo of my cry?Oh no. To see him again --
it would not matter where --
in heaven's deadwater
or inside the boiling vortex,
under serene moons or in bloodless fright!To be with him...
every springtime and winter,
united in one anguished knot
around his bloody neck!
Editor 1 Interpretation
To See Him Again by Gabriela Mistral: A Poetic Journey of Love and Loss
When we think of love, we usually associate it with happiness, joy and bliss. Yet, love can also bring pain, sorrow and grief. In her poem "To See Him Again," Gabriela Mistral explores the complex emotions that arise from losing a loved one. Through her powerful imagery and evocative language, she takes us on a journey of love and loss that is both heartbreaking and uplifting.
Background
Before delving into the poem itself, it is important to understand the context in which it was written. Gabriela Mistral was a Chilean poet, educator and diplomat, who became the first Latin American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945. She was born in 1889 and grew up in poverty, losing her father at an early age. Despite these challenges, she went on to become a respected writer and educator, and was known for her advocacy of social justice and human rights.
"To See Him Again" was written in 1914, and is part of Mistral's collection of poetry called "Desolación" (Desolation). The collection deals with themes of loss, loneliness, and despair, and was written during a period of personal crisis for Mistral, who had recently lost her first and only child. Mistral's grief is palpable in "To See Him Again," as she grapples with the pain of losing someone she loves deeply.
Analysis
The poem opens with the line "I do not want to see him again" (line 1), which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. At first glance, this line may seem to express a desire to be rid of the person who has caused the speaker so much pain. However, as the poem unfolds, it becomes clear that the speaker's feelings are much more complex. The speaker longs to see the person she has lost, even though it brings her pain to do so.
The poem is structured in a series of six stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The use of this simple, repetitive structure creates a sense of rhythm and momentum, which draws the reader into the speaker's emotional journey. The short lines and lack of punctuation give the poem a sense of urgency and immediacy, as if the speaker is pouring out her emotions in a rush of words.
Throughout the poem, Mistral uses vivid, sensory language to create a powerful sense of loss and longing. In the second stanza, she writes:
To feel him close by in the darkness,
I do not want to see him again.
This image of the speaker feeling the presence of her lost loved one in the darkness is both haunting and comforting. It suggests that even in death, the person she loves is still with her in some way. Yet, the line "I do not want to see him again" reminds us that this comfort is fleeting and incomplete.
In the third stanza, Mistral uses the metaphor of a ship to describe the speaker's emotional state:
To see him again, oh how I'd like to!
On the masthead I'd set up black sails
and beneath them in a boat of pain
row, row, row.
This image of the speaker rowing a boat of pain towards the person she has lost is both poignant and powerful. It suggests that the speaker is willing to endure any amount of suffering in order to be reunited with her loved one, even if it means navigating treacherous waters.
The fourth stanza introduces the idea of time, and its role in the speaker's grief:
To see him again,
I would give up my life
and the women who love me,
I do not want to see him again.
Here, the speaker acknowledges the passage of time, and the fact that she may never be able to see her loved one again. The repetition of the line "I do not want to see him again" at the end of each stanza emphasizes the speaker's conflicting emotions: her longing to be reunited with her loved one, and her fear of the pain that reunion would bring.
In the fifth stanza, Mistral uses the image of a desert to represent the speaker's emotional landscape:
To see him again,
deserting the old path,
flowers would turn to absinthe
and the water to brine.
This image of the landscape changing in response to the speaker's grief is both haunting and surreal. It suggests that the speaker's emotional state has the power to transform the world around her, turning beauty into bitterness and sweetness into salt.
The final stanza introduces the idea of acceptance, as the speaker acknowledges that her loved one is gone:
My heart tightens like a fist,
my lifeless eyes would weep,
to see him again…
I do not want to see him again.
Here, the speaker's emotions have come full circle, as she realizes that the pain of losing her loved one will never fully go away. The repetition of the phrase "I do not want to see him again" at the end of the poem emphasizes the finality of the speaker's loss, and her acceptance of it.
Interpretation
"To See Him Again" is a powerful meditation on the nature of grief and loss. Through her use of vivid, sensory language and evocative imagery, Mistral takes us on a journey of love and longing that is at once heartbreaking and uplifting. The poem explores the conflicting emotions that arise from losing someone we love deeply, and the ways in which grief can transform our emotional landscape.
At its core, "To See Him Again" is a poem about acceptance. The speaker's journey through grief takes her from a place of longing and desperation to a place of acceptance and understanding. She realizes that her loved one is gone, and that the pain of his loss will never fully go away. Yet, in acknowledging this, she is able to come to terms with her grief and find a measure of peace.
Conclusion
"To See Him Again" is a masterful work of poetry that speaks to the universal experience of loss and grief. Gabriela Mistral's use of vivid, sensory language and evocative imagery creates a powerful sense of emotional depth and resonance. The poem is a testament to the power of language to express even the most complex and difficult emotions, and to help us navigate the difficult terrain of grief and loss.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry To See Him Again: A Masterpiece by Gabriela Mistral
Gabriela Mistral, the Chilean poet, diplomat, and educator, is one of the most celebrated literary figures of the 20th century. Her works, which often explore themes of love, loss, and motherhood, have captivated readers around the world. One of her most famous poems, "Poetry To See Him Again," is a hauntingly beautiful tribute to a lost love. In this analysis, we will explore the meaning and significance of this masterpiece.
The poem begins with the speaker expressing her longing to see her beloved once again. She writes, "I want to see him again, to see him a little while / Just to tell him I love him, and then goodbye." The simplicity of these lines belies the depth of emotion that they convey. The speaker's desire to see her lover one last time is palpable, and the reader can feel the ache in her heart.
As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the nature of love and the pain of separation. She writes, "Love is so short, forgetting is so long." These lines are particularly poignant, as they capture the essence of what it means to love someone deeply. Love is fleeting, and yet the memories of that love can linger for a lifetime. The speaker's pain at the loss of her lover is palpable, and the reader can feel her sorrow.
Throughout the poem, Mistral employs vivid imagery to convey the speaker's emotions. She writes, "My heart looks for him, and he is not with me / The same night whitens, in the same branches." This imagery of the whitening night and the barren branches creates a sense of desolation and emptiness. The speaker's heart is searching for her lover, but he is nowhere to be found. The reader can feel the weight of her loneliness.
As the poem draws to a close, the speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of life. She writes, "Life is so much, how long is a life / And no one knows what life is, only love." These lines are a reminder that life is short, and that we must cherish the moments that we have with those we love. The speaker's love for her lost lover is a testament to the power of love to transcend time and space.
In conclusion, "Poetry To See Him Again" is a masterpiece of modern poetry. Gabriela Mistral's use of vivid imagery and simple language creates a powerful emotional impact on the reader. The poem explores themes of love, loss, and the fleeting nature of life, and does so with a depth of feeling that is rare in modern literature. It is a testament to Mistral's talent as a poet that this poem continues to resonate with readers around the world, nearly a century after it was first published.
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