
On the Coast by Pablo Neruda (1960)
The poem is a meditation on the speaker's return to their childhood home on the coast of Chile. The speaker reflects on their past, remembering the sea, the wind, and the landscape that shaped their identity. They express a sense of longing and nostalgia for a lost time and place. Through the use of imagery and symbolism, the poem explores themes of identity, memory, and the human connection to nature.
By Pablo Neruda · First published 1960 · Genre: Poetry, Surrealism, Modernism · 78 words
First lines
In Santos, amid the bittersweet smell of plantains that, like a river of soft gold opened in the back, leaves the stupid saliva of unhinged paradise on the shores, and the iron clamor of shadows, water, and locomotive, a current of sweat and feathers, something that descends and flows from the depths of burning leaves as from a pulsing armpit: a crisis of flights, a remote foam.
What this Textopian page supports
On the Coast is listed on Textopian as a poem by Pablo Neruda, dated 1960 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: 1960 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Surrealism, Modernism, Nature Writing, Symbolism
- Length: 78 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Confusing
Good citation fit
- Work identity for On the Coast 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 On the Coast?
- 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
Genres
- Poetry — The work is characterized by its lyrical language, imagery, and emotional depth typical of poetry.
- Surrealism — The vivid and dreamlike imagery suggests a surrealistic approach, blending reality with imaginative elements.
- Modernism — The innovative style and exploration of new themes reflect modernist tendencies in literature.
- Nature Writing — The focus on natural elements and sensory experiences aligns with the genre of nature writing.
Tags
Poetry · Chilean Literature · Love Poems · Nature Imagery · Coastal Settings · Sea Themes · Melancholy · Longing · Nostalgia · Romanticism · Imagist Style · Free Verse
More by Pablo Neruda