I walked: not only through the wasteland where t

The poem describes a journey through a desolate landscape where the speaker reflects on their past and their emotional state. The wasteland is a metaphor for the speaker's inner world, which is barren and devoid of life. The salted rock represents the speaker's hardened heart, which has been shaped by past experiences.

By Pablo Neruda · First published 1952 · Genre: Poetry, Nature Writing, Existentialism · 165 words

First lines

I walked: not only through the wasteland where the salted rock is like the only rose, a flower buried in the sea- but also on the banks of rivers gouging through the snow; the high bitter mountain ranges felt my footsteps too.

Tangled, whistling realms of my savage homeland, liana vines whose deadly kiss is chained to the jungle, wet cry of the bird that rises, throwing off its shivers:

O realm of lost sorrow and inclement tears!

What this Textopian page supports

I walked: not only through the wasteland where the salted rock is 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, Nature Writing, Existentialism, Surrealism, Romanticism
• Length: 165 words
• Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for I walked: not only through the wasteland where the salted rock is 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 I walked: not only through the wasteland where the salted rock is?
• 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

• The Rivers Come Forth by Pablo Neruda
• To Search by Pablo Neruda
• The Forest by Pablo Neruda
• In The Forests Lost I Cut A Dark Stick by Pablo Neruda
• Ah Vastness Of Pines by Pablo Neruda
• The Oceanics by Pablo Neruda

Genres

• Poetry — The work is characterized by its lyrical and expressive language, typical of poetic forms.
• Nature Writing — The text vividly describes landscapes and natural elements, reflecting a deep connection to the environment.
• Existentialism — Themes of belonging, identity, and the human experience in relation to nature suggest existential inquiries.
• Surrealism — Imagery and metaphors create a dream-like quality, aligning with surrealist elements.

Tags

Poetry · Latin American Literature · Chilean Poetry · Nature · Imagery · Symbolism · Existential Crisis · Self-Discovery · Journey · Wasteland · Desolation · Melancholy

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