Surrender Quote by Pablo Neruda
““Body of a woman, white hills, white thighs, you look like a world, lying in surrender. My rough peasant's body digs in you and makes the son leap from the depth of the earth. I was lone like a tunnel. The birds fled from me, and nigh swamped me with its crushing invasion. To survive myself I forged you like a weapon, like an arrow in my bow, a stone in my sling. But the hour of vengeance falls, and I love you. Body of skin, of moss, of eager and firm milk. Oh the goblets of the breast! Oh the eyes of absence! Oh the roses of the pubis! Oh your voice, slow and sad! Body of my woman, I will persist in your grace. My thirst, my boundless desire, my shifting road! Dark river-beds where the eternal thirst flows and weariness follows, and the infinite ache.””
About This Quote
A sensual ode that fuses erotic desire with mythic imagery, portraying the beloved as both a fertile landscape and a weapon of longing, while confronting mortality and yearning.
In simple terms: Erotic reverence for a lover as earth and weapon.
Key Takeaway
Desire intertwines with mythic power.
Themes
Eroticism
Nature metaphor
Mythic longing
Mortality
Transformation
Mood
Passionate
Melancholic
Mystical
Type
Poetic
Erotic
Metaphorical
When to use this quote
- Intimate poetry reading
- Literary analysis class
- Creative writing workshop
- Romantic confession
Key Concepts
Sensual imagery
Duality of body and weapon
Earth as lover
Vengeful passion
Practical Applications
- Poetic inspiration for erotic literature
- Teaching metaphorical language
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the poem balance love and aggression?
- What does the body symbolize beyond sexuality?
