I Come from the South [Song of Protest]

Name: I Come from the South [Song of Protest]
Author: Pablo Neruda

The poem is a powerful expression of social and political protest, written in the voice of a worker who has been exploited and oppressed. It describes the harsh conditions faced by workers in the southern regions, where they are forced to work long hours for little pay, and are subjected to physical and emotional abuse. The speaker's anger and frustration are palpable as they describe the injustices they have suffered, and their determination to rise up against their oppressors is clear.

By Pablo Neruda · First published 1937 · Genre: Political Poetry, Protest Literature, Lyric Poetry · 382 words

First lines

I was born to sing these sorrows, to expose destructive beasts, to contain shamelessness with a scourge, to touch inhuman scars.

I am of American parentage, born from Araucanian ashes, for when the invader searched for gold my country attacked him with fire and pain.

What this Textopian page supports

I Come from the South [Song of Protest] is listed on Textopian as a poem by Pablo Neruda, dated 1937 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: 1937 CE
Language: English
Genres: Political Poetry, Protest Literature, Lyric Poetry, Epic Poetry, Social Commentary
Length: 382 words
Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Political Poetry — The poem addresses themes of oppression, resistance, and social justice, characteristic of political poetry.
Protest Literature — The work serves as a voice against tyranny and injustice, aligning it with protest literature.
Lyric Poetry — The personal and emotional expression of the speaker's identity and experiences fits the lyric poetry genre.
Epic Poetry — The poem recounts historical struggles and collective memory, reminiscent of epic poetry.