Goodbyes by Pablo Neruda (1951)

Name: Goodbyes
Author: Pablo Neruda

The poem is a lament for the loss of a loved one, exploring themes of grief, longing, and nostalgia. It describes the speaker's emotional state after being separated from their beloved, using vivid imagery to convey the intensity of their feelings. The tone is melancholic and introspective, with the speaker reflecting on memories of the past and yearning for a reunion that may never come.

By Pablo Neruda · First published 1951 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Existentialism · 271 words

First lines

Goodbye, goodbye, to one place or another, to every mouth, to every sorrow, to the insolent moon, to weeks which wound in the days and disappeared, goodbye to this voice and that one stained with amaranth, and goodbye to the usual bed and plate, to the twilit setting of all goodbyes, to the chair that is part of the same twilight, to the way made by my shoes.

I spread myself, no question;

I turned over whole lives, changed skin, lamps, and hates, it was something I had to do, not by law or whim, more of a chain reaction; each new journey enchained me;

I took pleasure in place, in all places.

What this Textopian page supports

Goodbyes is listed on Textopian as a poem by Pablo Neruda, dated 1951 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: 1951 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Existentialism, Romanticism, Modernism
Length: 271 words
Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Genres

Poetry — The work is written in a poetic form, utilizing imagery, metaphor, and emotional expression typical of poetry.
Lyric — The text expresses personal emotions and reflections on themes of departure and loss, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Existentialism — The themes of identity, existence, and the nature of goodbyes reflect existentialist concerns.
Romanticism — The emphasis on emotion, nature, and individual experience aligns with Romantic literary themes.