Love by Pablo Neruda
Because of you, in gardens of blossoming
Flowers I ache from the perfumes of spring.
I have forgotten your face, I no longer
Remember your hands; how did your lips
Feel on mine?
Because of you, I love the white statues
Drowsing in the parks, the white statues that
Have neither voice nor sight.
I have forgotten your voice, your happy voice;
I have forgotten your eyes.
Like a flower to its perfume, I am bound to
My vague memory of you. I live with pain
That is like a wound; if you touch me, you will
Make to me an irreperable harm.
Your caresses enfold me, like climbing
Vines on melancholy walls.
I have forgotten your love, yet I seem to
Glimpse you in every window.
Because of you, the heady perfumes of
Summer pain me; because of you, I again
Seek out the signs that precipitate desires:
Shooting stars, falling objects.
Summary of Love by Pablo Neruda
The poem Love by Pablo Neruda centers on love, memory, pain, and longing. Pablo Neruda reflects on his past, especially the deep love he has for someone.
But, however, Pablo Neruda cannot vividly recall the exact face or even hand of the person he once loved dearly.
In spite of the fact that he has aptly forgotten almost everything about the person, yet he still possesses the strong emotional connection for the person.
The ostensible reason Pablo Neruda loves the unidentified person stems from the role as well as influence which the person has on him.
Summarily, Love by Pablo Neruda demonstrates clearly how true love can possibly lodge in someone's heart for years, even when the relationship or friendship has ceased or discontinued. Analysis of Love by Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda recounts at the beginning of the poem how the person he met years ago has factually transformed his feeling about life.
Pablo discloses that because of the person he met, he now feels the beauty of spring, and currently the perfumes and flowers are noticeable to him simply because of the person.
The poem also expresses Pablo Neruda's pain each time he sees the flower and the perfume. To Pablo Neruda, it often brings back the memory of his lost love. But unfortunately, Pablo Neruda cannot remember the person's actual face.
Pablo Neruda even says, "I no longer remember your hands, how did your lips feel on mine?"
In the second stanza, Pablo Neruda explains his reason for loving the white statue in the park.
The reason is purely associated with the person. The statue cannot be a witness of his love, for it cannot see anything.
Pablo Neruda further explains that he has forgotten the person's voice, including the eyes.
His expression is thus: "I have forgotten your voice, your happy voice;/ I have forgotten your eyes."
In the next stanza, Pablo Neruda says that just like a flower to its perfume, he is unable to remember the person because of "my vague memory of you."
This situation has made him to live completely with pain that is equated with a wound. He believes that if "you touch me, the pain may double," leading to an irreparable harm.
Pablo Neruda forges ahead to speak of how the person emotionally caresses him. This caresses enfold Pablo Neruda "like climbing vines on melancholy walls".
Even though he has extremely forgotten the person's love, but each time he looks through the window, it seems to glimpse the person in every window.
This poem line delineates that Pablo Neruda cannot remember the love he once shared with the person lucidly.
But, however, the window is the actual thing that always resurrects the vague memory of the person to Pablo.
In the last stanza of the poem, "Love" by Pablo Neruda, the perfume which emanates from summer also inflicts Pablo Neruda with intense pain.
The natural beauty is a constant reminder of the love he once shared with the person. Pablo Neruda then seeks signs.
He believes that signs will help him in bringing back his desire. The shooting stars and falling objects are indication of hope of finding love again.
Themes in Love by Pablo Neruda
1. Love and longing: The major theme which can be found in the poem is love and longing.
In spite of the fact that Pablo Neruda has forgotten the face of the person he once loved, yet his love for the person does not diminish. He keeps loving the person and longs to see the person again.
2. Memory and forgetfulness: The memory of the love for the person is fresh, yet Pablo cannot remember the person. Consequently, forgetfulness has taken part of him.
Literary devices in Love by Pablo Neruda
1. Simile: Simile can be found in the poem line, such as, "Your caresses enfold me like climbing vines on melancholy walls". Another line with simile is found: Like a flower to its perfumes.
2. Imagery: The images used in the poem are that of flowers, perfume, white statue, including shooting stars.
These things mentioned in the poem help the reader to graphically visualize the environment.
3. Personification: Pablo Neruda personifies the white statue as if it is capable of sleeping. White statue drowsing in the park.
4. Repetition: There are repetitions of several words in the poem. The phrase "Because of you" is repeated in the poem.
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