The People by Pablo Neruda (1964)

Name: The People
Author: Pablo Neruda

The poem is a tribute to the working class and the struggles they face. It describes their daily lives, hardships, and exploitation. The speaker expresses solidarity with the people and condemns those who oppress them. The poem also touches on themes of social justice, inequality, and the struggle for human rights.

By Pablo Neruda · First published 1964 · Genre: Poetry, Social Commentary, Philosophical · 1,002 words

First lines

That man I remember well, and at least two centuries have passed since I last saw him; he traveled neither on horseback nor in a carriage, always on foot he undid the distances, carrying neither sword nor weapon but nets on his shoulder, ax or hammer or spade; he never fought with another of his kind- his struggle was with water or with earth, with the wheat, for it to become bread, with the towering tree, for it to yield wood, with walls, to open doors in them, with sand, to form it into walls, and with the sea, to make it bear fruit.

I knew him and he goes on haunting me.

What this Textopian page supports

The People is listed on Textopian as a poem by Pablo Neruda, dated 1964 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: 1964 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Social Commentary, Philosophical, Historical, Narrative Non-Fiction
Length: 1,002 words
Structure: 1 section, 35 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Genres

Poetry — The work is written in a poetic form, utilizing imagery, metaphor, and rhythm characteristic of poetry.
Social Commentary — The themes focus on the struggles of the working class and the importance of labor, reflecting societal issues.
Philosophical — The text explores existential themes regarding life, death, and the human condition.
Historical — The narrative references historical elements and the passage of time, connecting personal experiences to broader historical contexts.