If You Forget Me by Pablo Neruda
Analysis: In the beginning of the poem; "If You Forget Me" by Pablo Neruda he states "I want you to know one thing ... You know how this is..", Neruda wants someone to know something very important, maybe someone he already knows. This is so because of the statement "You know how this is.." which could refer to a friend or lover of some sort whom he has shared memories with. In the poem Neruda uses imagery to express his love for someone who seems to be an important person in his life. "Everything carries me to you, as if everything exists,..." in this quote he goes on to tell someone that their love may be consuming and that his feelings and emotions are very strong. Yet later on in the poem Neruda goes on to say that "if little by little you stop loving me I shall stop loving you little by little." Now the reader can infer that he is in love but if his lover stops loving him he shall do the same. The connection between both Neruda and his lover is strong, but he explains to her that he will not wait for her love and move on by stating, "I shall lift my arms and my roots will set off to seek another land." Neruda uses literary devices to express his love for another individual and explains how ones love is consuming and how he expects the same love in return or else he will not share his love with them.
Literary Devices: Imagery: "The crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window.." Neruda wants the readers to visualize what he is thinking in his mind, which can give them a clear picture so that they can feel as if they are seeing these things as well.
Personification: "The wrinkled body of log". The log in the poem is given human characteristics such as being wrinkled. The log being wrinkled can be used to symbolize his love.
Paradox: "If you think long and mad" , this statement contradicts itself because he uses this statement to explain how if his lover decides not to love him anymore it may be a long and mad thought.
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/if-you-forget-me/
Literary Devices: Imagery: "The crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window.." Neruda wants the readers to visualize what he is thinking in his mind, which can give them a clear picture so that they can feel as if they are seeing these things as well.
Personification: "The wrinkled body of log". The log in the poem is given human characteristics such as being wrinkled. The log being wrinkled can be used to symbolize his love.
Paradox: "If you think long and mad" , this statement contradicts itself because he uses this statement to explain how if his lover decides not to love him anymore it may be a long and mad thought.
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/if-you-forget-me/