Elegy by Pablo Neruda (1954)
The poem is a lament for the dead, particularly those who have died in vain, and it expresses a deep sense of sorrow, grief, and outrage. It also conveys a strong sense of social justice, condemning the exploitation and oppression of the working class and the poor. The speaker's tone is one of urgency and desperation, as if trying to awaken the dead and rally the living to action.
By Pablo Neruda · First published 1954 · Genre: Poetry, Elegy, Lyrical · 251 words
First lines
Alone, in the wilderness,
I want to weep like the rivers, I want to grow dark, to sleep like an ancient mineral night.
Why did the radiant keys reach the bandit's hands? Rise up, maternal Oello, rest your secret upon this night's long fatigue and infuse my veins with your advice.
I don't ask you yet for the Yupanquis' sun.
What this Textopian page supports
Elegy is listed on Textopian as a poem by Pablo Neruda, dated 1954 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: 1954 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Elegy, Lyrical, Nature Writing, Philosophical
- Length: 251 words
- Structure: 1 section, 19 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is a lyrical expression of emotions and thoughts, characteristic of poetic form.
- Elegy — The title and themes suggest mourning and reflection on loss, typical of elegiac poetry.
- Lyrical — The personal and emotional tone aligns with lyrical poetry, focusing on the speaker's inner feelings.
- Nature Writing — The imagery of wilderness and natural elements indicates a connection to nature.
Tags
Poetry · Love · Loss · Grief · Mourning · Death · Memory · Nostalgia · Longing · Yearning · Sorrow · Pain
More by Pablo Neruda
- Body of a Woman (1959)
- The Light Wraps You (1954)
- Ah Vastness of Pines (1975)
- The Morning Is Full (1954)
- So That You Will Hear Me (1976)
- I Remember You As You Were (1952)
- Leaning Into The Afternoons Leaning into the afternoons I cast my sad nets towards your oceanic eyes (1954)
- White Bee (1974)
- All works by Pablo Neruda