The poem explores the theme of melancholy and longing through the use of metaphorical language. The speaker describes casting their "sad nets" towards the beloved's "oceanic eyes", suggesting a deep emotional connection and yearning. The image of leaning into the afternoons implies a sense of surrender or resignation, as if the speaker is helpless against the tides of time and emotion.
By Pablo Neruda · First published 1954 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Modernism