There is something dense, united, settled in the depths,
repeating its number, its identical sign.
How it is noted that stones have touched time,
in their refined matter there is an odor of age,
of water brought by the sea, from salt and sleep.
I’m encircled by a single thing, a single movement:
a mineral weight, a honeyed light
cling to the sound of the word “noche”:
the tint of wheat, of ivory, of tears,
things of leather, of wood, of wool,
archaic, faded, uniform,
collect around me like walls.
I work quietly, wheeling over myself,
a crow over death, a crow in mourning.
I mediate, isolated in the spread of seasons,
centric, encircled by a silent geometry:
a partial temperature drifts down from the sky,
a distant empire of confused unities
reunites encircling me.
"Unity" by Pablo Neruda is a reflective and introspective poem that explores the concept of unity and its profound implications. Through its contemplative language and metaphorical imagery, the poem delves into themes of interconnectedness, identity, and the transformative power of embracing unity.
The poem begins with the line "I have a crazy, crazy love of things," immediately setting a tone of fervent and passionate expression. The repetition of "crazy" suggests an intensity of emotion and a departure from the conventional.
Neruda uses a list of diverse and seemingly unrelated objects, such as "pencils, / papers, / tobacco, / straws" to emphasize the wide range of elements that make up the world. This list functions as a metaphor for the multitude of experiences and entities that comprise life.
The poem's central theme of unity emerges through the metaphor of a "crazy love" for things that unifies the speaker with the world. The speaker's love transcends individual objects and extends to encompass the entirety of existence.
Neruda employs sensory and tactile imagery, such as "thirsty / knives" and "ocean / embraces," to evoke a vivid and tangible sense of connection between the speaker and the world around them.
The poem's closing lines, "and when I am occupied with things, / I feel truly alive," encapsulate the transformative effect of embracing unity. The act of engaging with the world enhances the speaker's sense of vitality and connectedness.
"Unity" is a contemplative meditation on the interconnectedness of all things and the transformative power of embracing this sense of unity. Through its evocative imagery and introspective language, the poem invites readers to reflect on their own relationship with the world and the profound sense of fulfillment that can arise from recognizing the underlying unity that binds all of existence.
