Poetry by Pablo Neruda

Poetry by Pablo Neruda is a deeply autobiographical and metaphysical piece that reflects on the moment poetry "found" the poet. Neruda, a Nobel Laureate from Chile, often infused his work with emotion, surrealism, and reflections on nature, love, revolution, and identity. This poem captures the birth of his poetic calling as a kind of mystical, spiritual awakening.

Theme and Message

Themes:

• Inspiration and the Muse – Poetry arrives unexpectedly, almost magically.
• Artistic Awakening – The transformation from silence to creative expression.
• Mystery and the Sublime – Awe at the power of the universe and language.
• The Role of the Poet – A poet as a medium for something greater, not the originator.

Message: The poem portrays the inexplicable and profound arrival of poetic inspiration. It tells us that poetry is not always summoned—sometimes it finds the poet. It emphasizes how art transcends logic, arriving as a divine force that stirs the soul and shifts one’s existence permanently.

Line-by-Line Explanation

1. And it was at that age . . . poetry arrived

Poetry comes to the speaker at a significant, unnamed age—suggesting a rite of passage or awakening.

2–3. in search of me. I don't know, I don't know where / it came from, from winter or a river.

Poetry wasn’t something he sought—it sought him. The origin is mysterious, possibly natural or emotional.

4. I don't know how or when,

The experience defies exact memory or description—it’s hazy, almost dreamlike.

5–6. no, they were not voices, they were not / words, not silence,

This inspiration wasn’t in any expected form—neither spoken nor unspoken—suggesting it was something beyond language.

7–8. but from a street it called me, / from the branches of night,

Poetry’s call came subtly, from ordinary places (a street) and mysterious ones (the night).

9–10. abruptly from the others, / among raging fires

It separated him from others, a call into personal chaos or passion.

11. or returning alone,

This could imply a moment of introspection or solitude—fertile ground for artistic calling.

12–13. there it was, without a face, / and it touched me.

Poetry is personified—faceless yet intimate, almost divine in its reach.

14–16. I didn't know what to say, my mouth / had no way / with names,

He was overwhelmed, unable to express or categorize what was happening.

17. my eyes were blind.

Symbolic blindness—he could not yet "see" or understand this new dimension.

18–19. Something knocked in my soul, / fever or forgotten wings,

A stirring deep within, maybe passion (fever) or lost inspiration (wings)—something awakened.

20–22. and I made my own way, / deciphering / that fire,

He begins to respond to this awakening, slowly trying to understand it—“fire” representing passion or inspiration.

23–24. and I wrote the first, faint line, / faint, without substance,

His poetic journey begins humbly, unsure and intangible.

25. pure nonsense,

Early writing seems meaningless—even to him.

26. pure wisdom

Yet, paradoxically, it’s full of instinctive truth—wisdom born from emotion.

27. of someone who knows nothing;

He’s a novice, but that makes the experience more genuine.

28–30. and suddenly I saw / the heavens / unfastened / and open,

A grand, celestial metaphor: his mind and perception expand with the arrival of poetry.

31–33. planets, / palpitating plantations, / the darkness perforated,

Poetry allows him to see the universe vividly. “Palpitating” suggests living, breathing life in everything.

34–36. riddled / with arrows, fire, and flowers,

Contrasting images—destruction (arrows, fire) and beauty (flowers)—highlight poetry’s complexity.

37–39. the overpowering night, the universe. / And I, tiny being, / drunk with the great starry / void,

He feels small in comparison to the vast universe of ideas, yet is overwhelmed and intoxicated by it.

40–42. likeness, image of / mystery, / felt myself a pure part / of the abyss.

He becomes part of the unknown—the mystery of creation, of existence, of poetry.

43. I wheeled with the stars.

A beautiful image of surrender—he joins the celestial dance.

44. My heart broke loose with the wind.

His emotions are liberated—poetry has given him freedom of expression.

Poetic Devices

• Personification: Poetry is portrayed as a mysterious, seeking force.
• Imagery: Vivid cosmic and elemental images make poetry feel vast, divine.
• Metaphor: Poetry is a fire, a river, a night branch, a cosmic force.
• Paradox: “Pure nonsense, pure wisdom” reflects the mystery of creativity.
• Symbolism: Fire = passion; stars = inspiration; blindness = ignorance turned insight.

Why Was It Written?

This poem serves as a poetic autobiography. Neruda reflects on how poetry transformed his life and became inseparable from his being. It’s a homage to the muse, the ineffable source of artistic creation.

Summary

Pablo Neruda’s Poetry describes the transformative moment when poetry entered his life. It was not invited—it came unannounced and mystical, awakening something deep within him. He traces the overwhelming feeling of being touched by the muse, and how, from a place of blindness and silence, he was propelled into a universe of creativity and expression. The poem is a beautiful tribute to the mysterious nature of inspiration and the divine chaos of artistic birth.