Ode to the Book II by Pablo Neruda
The poem is a tribute to the beauty of a beloved woman. It describes her physical appearance, comparing her to natural elements like the sea and the wind. The speaker expresses his desire to possess her, but also acknowledges that she is unattainable. The poem explores themes of love, beauty, and the impossibility of possessing something or someone that is desired.
By Pablo Neruda · First published 1954 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Philosophical · 310 words
First lines
Book, beautiful book, little forest, leaf after leaf, your paper smells of the elements, you are daily and nocturnal, grain, ocean; in your ancient pages bear hunters, bonfires along the Mississippi, canoes in the islands; later on roads and more roads, revelations, rebellious towns,
Rimbaud, like an injured blood-soaked fish gasping in the mud, and the beauty of brotherhood, stone by stone building the human castle, grief interwoven with firmness, solidarity; occult book passed from pocket to pocket, a secret lamp, a red star.
What this Textopian page supports
Ode to the Book II is listed on Textopian as a poem by Pablo Neruda, dated 1954 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: 1954 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Philosophical, Nature Writing, Social Commentary
- Length: 310 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in a poetic form, utilizing imagery, metaphor, and lyrical language to convey deep emotions and themes.
- Literary Fiction — The text explores complex themes of human connection, struggle, and the significance of books in life, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Philosophical — The poem reflects on the nature of existence, knowledge, and the human experience, aligning with philosophical themes.
- Nature Writing — The imagery of nature, such as forests and oceans, suggests a connection to the natural world, typical of nature writing.
Tags
Poetry · Literary Fiction · Latin American Literature · Chilean Literature · 20th Century Literature · Love Poetry · Romanticism · Nostalgia · Melancholy · Introspection · Personal Reflections · Emotional Depth
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