Dead Gallop by Pablo Neruda (1952)

Name: Dead Gallop
Author: Pablo Neruda

The poem explores the theme of love and its connection to death, using imagery and symbolism to convey the idea that love can be a destructive force. The speaker describes their beloved's body as a galloping horse, emphasizing the power and energy of their passion. However, this passion is also tied to mortality, suggesting that love can consume and destroy individuals.

By Pablo Neruda · First published 1952 · Genre: Poetry, Surrealism, Modernism · 336 words

First lines

Like ashes, like oceans swarming, in the sunken slowness, formlessness, or like high on the road hearing bellstrokes cross by crosswise, holding that sound just free of the metal, blurred, bearing down, reducing to dust in the selfsame mill of forms far out of reach, whether remembered or never seen, and the aroma of plums rolling to earth that rot in time, endlessly green.

All of it so quick, so livening, immobile though, like a pulley idling on itself, those wheels that motors have, in short.

What this Textopian page supports

Dead Gallop is listed on Textopian as a poem by Pablo Neruda, dated 1952 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Poem
Author: Pablo Neruda
Date: 1952 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Surrealism, Modernism, Philosophical, Symbolism
Length: 336 words
Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Dead Gallop by Pablo Neruda
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Dead Gallop?
How does this poem by Pablo Neruda fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The work exhibits a lyrical and expressive style characteristic of poetry, focusing on imagery and emotional depth.
Surrealism — The text contains dream-like sequences and abstract concepts, aligning with surrealist themes and techniques.
Modernism — The fragmented structure and exploration of existential themes reflect modernist literary characteristics.
Philosophical — The exploration of existence, perception, and the nature of reality indicates philosophical underpinnings.