"Tonight I Can Write..."

When reading this poem by Pablo Neruda I was reminded of an experience a close friend of mine is going through at the moment. The narrator of the poem speaks about his lost love in the same tone of voice that my friend uses when he thinks/talks about his recently-made ex-girlfriend. The narrator solemnly and sorrowfully reports that he can now write the saddest lines, signaling to the reader the devastation that the loss of his woman has caused. As we read on, the narrator seems to be talking to himself (obviously) and attempting to convince himself that he no longer loves her, that he no longer needs her, while at the same time reminiscing about "her voice. Her bright body. Her infinite eyes," (2443). He tries to say "what does it matter that my love could not keep her. The night is shattered and she is not with me, " but repeatedly desires her to be near or with him. I think this poem is a great portrayal of the emotions felt by a man when he has recently lossed a girl that he truly cared about. In the absense of everyone else he is able to reveal his sadness, but as a man his ego continues to pop up and attempts to convince himself that he is not hurt.