I want you to know
one thing.
You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.
Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.
If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.
If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.
But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.
Summary
The poem is a deeply personal exploration of love, attachment, and emotional reciprocity. It presents a conditional devotion, where the speaker expresses unwavering love but also a readiness to move on if the beloved forgets him.
- Love is Everywhere
- The speaker describes how everything in nature—the moon, autumn branches, fire, and even ash—reminds him of his beloved.
- This shows how deeply she is intertwined with his world.
- Love is Conditional
- The speaker warns that if the beloved starts to forget him little by little, he will also gradually let go.
- If she completely forgets him, he will erase her from his heart without hesitation.
- Independence and Self-Worth
- If the beloved finds his passionate nature overwhelming and decides to leave, the speaker won’t wait in sorrow.
- Instead, he will seek love elsewhere, symbolized by his roots setting off to find another land.
- Devotion and Eternal Love
- However, if the beloved loves him with steadfast passion, his love will burn eternally.
- He reassures her that his love is dependent on her love—as long as she stays, his devotion will remain unshaken.
Critical Analysis
Pablo Neruda’s “If You Forget Me” is a poem of deep longing, passion, and emotional balance. The poem shows that love is not just about longing but also about self-respect.
- A Love That Mirrors Itself
- The poet emphasizes that love should be reciprocated.
- If his love is not valued, he won’t cling to the past but will move forward.
- Romantic & Political Undertones
- The poem may have been inspired by Neruda’s love affairs, but it also reflects his exile from Chile.
- The “isles” can symbolize his homeland, showing his complex relationship with love and belonging.
- The Power of Passion
- The poem captures the fire of love, emphasizing that it thrives on mutual passion.
- When one side withdraws, the other will fade away too.
- Strength in Love & Loss
- Neruda doesn’t present love as eternal suffering. Instead, he shows a strong-willed perspective.
- If love is true, it will endure, but if it isn’t, letting go is the right choice.
Themes
- Love and Memory
- Love is deeply tied to memories and everyday experiences.
- The poet’s beloved is present in everything around him.
- Reciprocity in Love
- Love is mutual—if one partner withdraws, the other will do the same.
- The Strength to Let Go
- Unlike traditional love poems that plead for love, this poem says:
- If you leave, I won’t chase you.
- If you love me, my love will never fade.
- Passion & Devotion
- Love is intense, consuming, and deeply connected to the soul.
- When reciprocated, it is fiery and eternal.
Literary Devices
- Imagery:
- “Crystal moon, red branch of slow autumn” → Vivid nature imagery to evoke deep emotions.
- “A flower climbs up to your lips to seek me” → Symbolizes the persistence of love.
- Metaphor:
- “Little boats that sail toward those isles of yours” → The journey of love and longing.
- “My roots will set off to seek another land” → Moving on from lost love.
- Parallelism:
- “If little by little you stop loving me / I shall stop loving you little by little.”
- This mirrored structure reinforces the idea of love as a reflection.
- Symbolism:
- “Fire” represents passion and enduring love.
- “Ash” represents what remains after love fades.
- Personification:
- “A flower climbs up to your lips to seek me” → Love is given a life of its own.
Conclusion
“If You Forget Me” is a powerful and passionate love poem, expressing both deep devotion and personal strength. It captures the fragility and resilience of love, reminding us that love should be mutual, alive, and filled with passion—but if it fades, we must be willing to let go and move forward.
stanza by stanza
First Stanza:
“I want you to know
one thing.
You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.”
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Crystal: Clear and transparent, like glass.
- Impalpable: Unable to be felt by touch; intangible.
- Aromas: Pleasant smells or fragrances.
- Isles: Islands.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The poem begins with a declaration of love and connection. The speaker wants their beloved to understand one essential truth: that every aspect of the world reminds them of their lover. The imagery of the “crystal moon,” the “red branch of slow autumn,” and the “impalpable ash” near the fire evokes a sense of beauty, transience, and warmth. These natural elements serve as metaphors for the speaker’s feelings, suggesting that love is as constant and pervasive as the moon, as vivid as autumn, and as enduring as the warmth of a fire.
The speaker describes how everything in existence—aromas, light, metals—feels like “little boats” sailing toward the “isles” of their beloved. This metaphor suggests that the beloved is a destination, a place of refuge and belonging. The stanza conveys the depth of the speaker’s love, which is intertwined with the very fabric of the world around them.
Second Stanza:
“Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.
If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.”
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Little by little: Gradually or slowly over time.
- Suddenly: Happening quickly and unexpectedly.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
Here, the tone shifts to one of pragmatism and self-preservation. The speaker acknowledges the possibility that their beloved might stop loving them, either gradually or suddenly. In response, the speaker declares that they will mirror this change, withdrawing their love in equal measure. This reflects a sense of fairness and reciprocity in love—the idea that love cannot thrive if it is one-sided.
The lines “do not look for me, for I shall already have forgotten you” suggest a firm resolve to protect oneself from heartbreak. The speaker refuses to cling to a love that is no longer reciprocated, emphasizing the importance of mutual affection and respect in a relationship.
Third Stanza:
“If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.”
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Banners: Flags or symbols representing a cause or identity.
- Shore: The land along the edge of a body of water.
- Roots: The part of a plant that attaches it to the ground; metaphorically, one’s origins or foundations.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
In this stanza, the speaker addresses the possibility of being abandoned. They describe their life as a “wind of banners,” suggesting movement, passion, and a sense of purpose. If their beloved decides to leave them “at the shore of the heart where I have roots,” the speaker vows to adapt and move on. The imagery of lifting their arms and setting off their roots to “seek another land” symbolizes resilience and the ability to start anew.
This stanza highlights the speaker’s strength and independence. While they are deeply in love, they are not defined solely by their relationship. They are capable of uprooting themselves and finding new meaning and belonging elsewhere.
Fourth Stanza:
“But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.”
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Destined: Meant to happen or exist for a particular purpose.
- Implacable: Unable to be stopped or changed; relentless.
- Extinguished: Put out or quenched; ended.
In-Depth Explanation of Text and Context:
The final stanza returns to the theme of enduring love. The speaker describes a scenario where their beloved remains devoted to them, feeling “destined” for them with “implacable sweetness.” The imagery of a flower climbing to their lips to “seek me” suggests a natural, effortless connection between the two lovers.
The speaker responds with equal passion, declaring that their love is a fire that is never extinguished or forgotten. The line “my love feeds on your love” emphasizes the interdependence of their affection—it is a mutual, sustaining force. The poem concludes with a promise of eternal togetherness: “as long as you live it will be in your arms without leaving mine.”
This stanza beautifully captures the ideal of a reciprocal, enduring love that thrives on mutual devotion and connection.
Overall Analysis:
Pablo Neruda’s “If You Forget Me” is a meditation on the nature of love, exploring both its fragility and its resilience. The poem oscillates between vulnerability and strength, reflecting the complexities of human relationships. The speaker’s love is deeply passionate but also pragmatic, rooted in a sense of self-worth and reciprocity. The imagery of nature—moon, fire, flowers, and roots—serves to universalize the emotions, making the poem relatable to anyone who has experienced love and loss.
