So Is My Life by Pablo Neruda (1950)

The poem is a deeply personal and emotional account of the speaker's life, exploring themes of love, loss, politics, and identity. It is written in a lyrical and expressive style, with vivid imagery and metaphorical language. The speaker reflects on their childhood, relationships, and experiences, weaving together a narrative that is both intimate and universal.

By Pablo Neruda · First published 1950 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Social Commentary · 126 words

First lines

My duty moves along with my song:

I am I am not: that is my destiny.

I exist not if I do not attend to the pain of those who suffer: they are my pains.

For I cannot be without existing for all, for all who are silent and oppressed,

What this Textopian page supports

So Is My Life is listed on Textopian as an essay by Pablo Neruda, dated 1950 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Essay
• Author: Pablo Neruda
• Date: 1950 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Social Commentary, Autobiographical, Existential
• Length: 126 words
• Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for So Is My Life 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 So Is My Life?
• How does this essay by Pablo Neruda fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?

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Genres

• Poetry — The work is primarily a poetic expression, characterized by lyrical language and emotional depth.
• Philosophical — The themes explore existence, identity, and the human condition, reflecting philosophical inquiries.
• Social Commentary — The text addresses social issues, particularly the pain of the oppressed, indicating a critique of societal structures.
• Autobiographical — The personal reflections suggest elements of autobiography, revealing the author's experiences and beliefs.

Tags

Poetry · Autobiographical · Chilean Literature · Latin American Literature · Memoir · Personal Reflections · Introspection · Self-Discovery · Love · Loss · Grief · Politics

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