Pablo Neruda's Poetic Style

Poetic style changes as ones lifestyle changes, may it be due to age, circumstance or even political views. In the case of Pablo Neruda, his early days and later writings sit in stark contrast to one another. There are many reasons to consider as well as the extent of change in his style. As Neruda becomes more actively involved in socialism, we see a change in his writing, which extends to all facets. His tone and word choice are the most noticeable restyling choices that impact his overall poetic feel. The poems, which I will be comparing in this essay, will be “Tonight I can Write” and “I’m Explaining a few Things”

“Tonight I can Write” was a poem written as part of the “Veinte poemas de amor y una cancion desesperada.” series of poetry which Neruda wrote in his early twenties.
We see that Neruda utilizes a youthful style full of passion and emotions which befits the theme of the series. As the idea of love, passion and lust are explored we see how Neruda his word choice to describe the transcendental and ethereal nature of love. We see this in the poem “Tonight I can Write” by his referral and usage of night to describe the infinite emotions and indescribable confusion he feels over having lost the relationship he shared with his lover. Furthermore, Neruda juxtaposes the present and past to indicate how confused he is over having to have lost such a love. To further emphasize his grief, the lines “Tonight I can write” hint towards a inability to write as he was still very much confused over his emotions. The overall tone of the series of poems he wrote in his early years highlight to us a youthful and intrinsic desire for love and passion in his life. As Neruda grows up, and realizes the realities of life, we see a huge change from youthful passion, emotions and hope towards a more aggressive and frank style. 

Witnessing the Spanish Civil war gave Neruda a completely different outlook on life and his focus changed from self centered themes of love to more global matters involving oppression and politics. In the poem “I’m explaining a few things” Neruda begins with describing the peaceful suburb life of Madrid. His residence is brought across to the reader as a peaceful “house of flowers”. Neruda also conjures up the ideas of a simple life, of “bells, and clocks, and trees” which is later vehemently shattered by “Bandits with planes and Moors”. We see that Neruda has chosen to conjure up dark images for our own benefit as he is intentionally highlighting to us the horrors that have descended upon the peaceful lives of civilians. The huge juxtaposition between “the light of June” and the beauties of society where the “measure of life” lent itself as a heartbeat to a vibrant city and “the blood of children” which “ran through the streets” is self evident to the realities which Neruda is trying evoke within the reader. We see that Neruda has changed his style in a manner, which attempts to bring to light the cruelty of humanity as well as the struggle between innocence and evil. A noticeably apt example would be how Neruda begins with Tomatoes and later carries on with “the blood of children”. 

The main point of contention between his two opposing styles would be the drastic change in viewpoints as he moves from a rather sheltered and carefree life to a tumultuous and politically driven life. Neruda, as a poet of the people, also attempts to highlight to us how evil was overrunning the world that is a drastically different message as compared to love and passionate youth. 

Overall, it is evident that the style of Neruda’s poetry has changed due to a shift in his overall viewpoint in life. His role in highlighting to the reader strong emotions, positive and negative ones, through comprehensible imagery enables the reader to connect with Neruda on a level, which is rare to find. Neruda does not get bogged down with complexities when trying to explain the simplest of emotions, namely anger and love, passion and sorrow.