when i die i want your hands on my eyes analysis
“When I Die I Want Your Hands on My Eyes” is a beautiful and contemplative poem by the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. The poem is a testament to the power of love and the hope that it can continue beyond death.
The opening lines of the poem express Neruda’s desire for his loved one to be present with him in his final moments: “When I die I want your hands on my eyes: / I want the light and the wheat of your beloved hands to pass their freshness over me once more”. Here, Neruda longs for the comfort of his loved one’s touch, seeking solace and support even in death.
The poem then goes on to describe the beauty and tenderness of his loved one’s hands, expressing the poet’s deep appreciation and admiration for them. He writes, “I want to feel the softness that changed my destiny, / I want you to live while I wait for you, asleep, / I want your ears to still hear the wind, / I want you to sniff the sea’s aroma that we loved together.” Through these words, Neruda is expressing a deep longing to hold onto his love, even in the face of mortality.
The final stanza of the poem offers a glimmer of hope and a sense of continuation beyond death. Neruda writes, “I want what I love to continue to live, / and you whom I love and sang above everything else / to continue to flourish, full-flowered / so that you can reach everything my love directs you to”. Here, he expresses the belief that his love will continue to live on through his loved one, and that his memory will be carried forward.
Overall, “When I Die I Want Your Hands on My Eyes” is a poignant and heartfelt expression of love and mortality. Neruda’s words capture the deep emotions that come with the inevitability of death, while also offering a sense of hope and continuation through love.