Darkness Quote by Pablo Neruda
““Leaning into the afternoons I cast my sad nets towards your oceanic eyes. There in the highest blaze my solitude lengthens and flames, its arms turning like a drowning man's. I send out red signals across your absent eyes that smell like the sea or the beach by a lighthouse. You keep only darkness, my distant female, from your regard sometimes the coast of dread emerges. Leaning into the afternoons I fling my sad nets to that sea that is thrashed by your oceanic eyes. The birds of night peck at the first stars that flash like my soul when I love you. The night gallops on its shadowy mare shedding blue tassels over the land.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: "Ode to the Sea" (unpublished collection), 1940s
A lover describes yearning and melancholy, using oceanic imagery to convey longing, isolation, and the intensity of unreciprocated affection.
In simple terms: Longing expressed through sea metaphors.
Key Takeaway
Embrace vulnerability, seek honest connection.
Themes
love
loneliness
nature
desire
melancholy
Mood
poignant
introspective
melancholic
Type
poetic
lyational
emotive
When to use this quote
- relationship yearning
- creative writing
- personal reflection
- nighttime contemplation
Key Concepts
romanticism
symbolism
imagery
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the ocean symbolize for you?
- How can you balance longing with self‑care?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may romanticize pain, overlooking healthy boundaries.
