Thorns, shattered glass, sickness, crying: all d
The poem explores the themes of suffering, despair, and hopelessness through vivid imagery and metaphorical language. The speaker describes a state of being surrounded by thorns, shattered glass, and sickness, evoking feelings of pain, fragmentation, and decay. The crying that persists throughout the day suggests a sense of desperation and anguish.
By Pablo Neruda · First published 1974 · Genre: Poetry, Existentialism, Modernism · 154 words
First lines
Thorns, shattered glass, sickness, crying: all day they attack the honeyed contentment. And neither the tower, nor the walls, nor secret passageways are of much help.
Trouble seeps through, into the sleepers' peace.
Sorrow rises and falls, comes near with its deep spoons, and no one can live without this endless motion; without it there would be no birth, no roof, no fence.
It happens: we have to account for it.
What this Textopian page supports
Thorns, shattered glass, sickness, crying: all day is listed on Textopian as a poem by Pablo Neruda, dated 1974 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: 1974 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Existentialism, Modernism, Symbolism, Philosophical
- Length: 154 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Thorns, shattered glass, sickness, crying: all day by Pablo Neruda
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Similar titles
- Sonnet Of The Instruments Of Death by David Park Barnitz
- The Song Of Despair by Pablo Neruda
- The Saddest Hour by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Only The Diamond by Edna St Vincent Millay
- Suicides Note by Langston Hughes
- I Want To Die While You Love Me by Georgia Douglas Johnson
Genres
- Poetry — The work employs lyrical language, imagery, and emotional depth characteristic of poetry.
- Existentialism — Themes of sorrow, suffering, and the human condition reflect existentialist concerns.
- Modernism — The fragmented imagery and exploration of inner turmoil align with modernist literary techniques.
- Symbolism — The use of thorns, glass, and sickness as symbols conveys deeper meanings about life and suffering.
Tags
Pain · Suffering · Turmoil · Emotional · Intense · Dark · Gloomy · Melancholic · Despair · Hopelessness · Anguish · Torment
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