Melancholy in the Families

Name: Melancholy in the Families
Author: Pablo Neruda

The poem explores the theme of melancholy and its effects on family relationships. It describes a sense of sadness and despair that pervades the household, affecting the interactions between family members. The speaker reflects on past memories, now tainted by the current atmosphere of sorrow. The poem conveys a sense of longing and nostalgia for happier times, while also acknowledging the impossibility of recapturing them.

By Pablo Neruda · First published 1954 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Surrealism · 309 words

First lines

I keep a blue flask, inside it an ear and a portrait: when night forces the owl's feathers, when the raucous cherry tree shatters its lips and threatens with husks that the ocean wind often penetrates,

I know that there are great sunken expanses, quartz in ingots, slime, blue waters for a battle, much silence, many veins of retreats and camphors, fallen things, medals, acts of tenderness, parachutes, kisses.

What this Textopian page supports

Melancholy in the Families is listed on Textopian as a poem by Pablo Neruda, dated 1954 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Pablo Neruda
Date: 1954 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Surrealism, Symbolism, Existentialism
Length: 309 words
Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

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Genres

Poetry — The work employs rich imagery, metaphor, and emotional depth characteristic of poetic expression.
Literary Fiction — The narrative explores complex themes of melancholy, family, and existential reflection, typical of literary fiction.
Surrealism — The vivid and dreamlike descriptions create a surreal atmosphere, blurring the lines between reality and imagination.
Symbolism — The use of symbols such as the abandoned dining room and natural elements conveys deeper meanings and emotions.