The Crystal Moon By Niertruda Literary Devices

While reading this poem, it evokes many emotions at once and anyone could say the same; they would read this poem and feel as if they were on a rollercoaster. It has a very peaceful and romantic tone at the beginning, including descriptive imagery such as “the crystal moon” and “the red branch” (line 5) that is used to inform the lover on how much he loves her. However, it then suddenly transitions into a serious and somber attitude from the author, alerting her what would happen if she were to forget him. In the last stanza of the poem, it returns to normal, with a gentle and loving tone seen in the first few stanzas that shows us their cherishment if they were to never abandon each other. After reading the poem, it generally displays how
Neruda adds obvious devices that overpower the poem, such as imagery and metaphors, but also connects possible archetypes and symbols to better express himself. To begin, the first stanza uses enjambment, as the end of the stanza leaves the reader hanging and curious. It says, “I want you to know/one thing.” (lines 1-2) What is this thing? The reader has no idea of it yet and is left thinking, wanting to read on. Next, the second stanza is filled with literary devices to inform the reader of his feelings towards his lover. For example, he says, “if I look/at the crystal moon, at the red branch/(…)/if I touch/near the fire” (lines 4-5 & 7-8). The author uses the senses of touch and sight to emphasize on the fact that every thought and impression he has will always lead him back to her as a metaphor (little boats/that sail/toward those isles of yours that wait for me) (lines 14-16) so that the reader has a better visualization of what he is currently feeling. In addition to this, there is a possible archetype/symbol that is found in the second stanza and reoccurs throughout the poem that corresponds with the four basic elements of fire, water, air and earth. To clarify, fire is shown throughout the poem, water as in the boats, isles and shores, air (aromas and wind) and earth (metals and roots) are all displayed. These four elements are typically essential forces to sustaining life on Earth and can be related to how important his lover is in his life. In other words, these elements revolve around him and lead the author to her, showing how crucial she is in his life. Next, in the fifth stanza, he talks about the lover possibly forgetting him. The wind element reappears as a metaphor and he says, “the wind of banners/that passes through my life”. The author refers to wind waving a banner. Once it hits and passes