What happened to me in Colombia
The poem is a nostalgic and melancholic reflection on the speaker's past experiences in Colombia. The speaker describes their time in Colombia as a period of youthful innocence and passion, marked by romantic encounters and a deep connection with nature. However, this idyllic period was also marred by violence, poverty, and social unrest. The poem expresses a sense of longing and nostalgia for a lost time and place.
By Pablo Neruda · First published 1974 · Genre: Poetry, Magical Realism, Travel Literature · 190 words
First lines
What happened to me in Colombia, a country well known for its exquisite emeralds, is hard to say.
It came about that there they looked for one for me, they found and cut it and the fingers of all the poets lifted it up to offer me, and at the very height of the hands of all the gathered poets, my heavenly stone, my emerald ascended, slipping up into the air during a storm that shook us with fear.
What this Textopian page supports
What happened to me in Colombia 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, Magical Realism, Travel Literature, Memoir, Nature Writing
- Length: 190 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The work employs lyrical language and imagery typical of poetry, focusing on emotions and aesthetic experiences.
- Magical Realism — The blending of fantastical elements, such as the ascension of the emerald and the transformation of butterflies, reflects the characteristics of magical realism.
- Travel Literature — The narrative describes a personal experience in Colombia, highlighting the cultural and natural beauty of the country.
- Memoir — The text reflects personal experiences and memories, characteristic of memoir writing.
Tags
Autobiography · Memoir · Travelogue · Latin American Literature · Poetic Prose · Personal Narrative · Historical Events · Political Unrest · Social Commentary · Cultural Reflections · Self-Discovery · Journey of Self
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