The House by Pablo Neruda (1960)

Name: The House
Author: Pablo Neruda

The poem explores the speaker's childhood home, describing its physical structure and the emotions it evokes. The speaker recalls memories of their family and past experiences within the house, conveying a sense of nostalgia and longing. The poem also touches on the theme of impermanence, as the speaker acknowledges that the house is now empty and in disrepair.

By Pablo Neruda · First published 1960 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Autobiographical · 233 words

First lines

My house, the walls whose fresh, recently cut wood still smells: dilapidated homestead that creaked with every step, and whistled with the warrior wind of austral weather, becoming stormy element, strange bird beneath whose frozen feathers my song grew.

I saw shadows, faces that grew around my roots like plants, kin who sang songs in the shade of a tree and shot amid the wet horses, women hidden in the shadow cast by masculine towers, gallops that lashed the light, rarefied nights of wrath, barking dogs.

To what lost archipelagoes did my father slip away, with the land's dark daybreak, in his howling trains?

What this Textopian page supports

The House 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, Literary Fiction, Autobiographical, Magical Realism, Historical Fiction
Length: 233 words
Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The work employs rich imagery, metaphor, and lyrical language characteristic of poetry.
Literary Fiction — The narrative explores deep themes of memory, family, and socio-economic struggles, typical of literary fiction.
Autobiographical — The text reflects personal experiences and familial relationships, suggesting autobiographical elements.
Magical Realism — The blending of the ordinary with the extraordinary, such as the personification of the house and nature, aligns with magical realism.