Verb by Pablo Neruda (1966)

Name: Verb
Author: Pablo Neruda

The poem explores the theme of love and its transformative power. It describes the speaker's intense emotional state, using imagery and metaphor to convey the all-consuming nature of their passion. The poem also touches on the idea that love can be both creative and destructive, highlighting the tension between these two opposing forces.

By Pablo Neruda · First published 1966 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Experimental Literature · 107 words

First lines

I'm going to wrinkle this word, twist it, yes, it's too smooth, as if the tongue of a big dog or a big river's water had washed it for years and years.

I want to see roughness in the word, ironlike salt, earth's toothless strength, the blood of those who spoke out and those who didn't.

I want to see thirst deep in its syllables.

I want to touch fire in the sound.

What this Textopian page supports

Verb is listed on Textopian as a poem by Pablo Neruda, dated 1966 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: 1966 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Experimental Literature, Philosophical Literature, Surrealism
Length: 107 words
Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

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Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The work is characterized by its lyrical and expressive language, typical of poetry.
Literary Fiction — The themes of language, identity, and existential reflection align with literary fiction.
Experimental Literature — The unconventional approach to language and form suggests an experimental style.
Philosophical Literature — The exploration of meaning and existence through words indicates philosophical themes.