“If You Forget Me” Pablo Neruda This poem dramatizes the conflict between the poet’s passionate burning desire and unconditional love for a woman, and his stern attitude toward her if she doesn’t feel the same. By demonstrating excellent personification, imagery, and sentimentality, this poet portrays love, compassion, and optimism. Although the poet expresses deep emotion for his love, he also acknowledges that love can be dangerous, and refuses to be damaged. To begin with, while explicating this poem, it was evident to make the assumption that the poet has experienced pain once or twice in his life. The author begins to describe his love for a woman that is so powerful, that it is evident that he would go above and beyond to …show more content…

The poet then returns to the love entrenched speaker he is sought out to be. “If each day, each hour, you feel that you are destined for me with implacable sweetness…in me all that fire is repeated. In me nothing is extinguished or forgotten.” (36-44) This is where Neruda emphasizes his true heart felt love for this woman, by illustrating that if the feeling is mutual nothing will defer his love. Finally in line (45) Neruda connects this poem with a lasting thought, and possibly a theme. “My love feeds on your love, beloved” Demonstrating his compassion with a lasting effect. Throughout this poem there are no evident signs of rhythm, or rhyme; although, the reader may view this as very effective. This, in turn, was perhaps intended by the poet because love in most cases, is unpredictable. There was, however, a noticeable pattern when discovering the poet’s mood. The first stanza was a warning, the second, a beautiful picture painted by the poet of love. Neruda continues this pattern with repetitive use of the word “if” which may be referred to as a presupposition. “If you suddenly forget me, do not look for me, I shall have already forgotten you”. (20-24) This line can be interpreted as, “if she forgets him, he will forget her first.” Neruda finally discontinues this pattern by returning to the mood of the second stanza by incorporating beautiful imagery and