Poem Analysis - What You Loved

A Lament of Undying Devotion

Gabriela Mistral's "what you loved" is a poignant and deeply personal poem, a lament suffused with longing and unwavering devotion. The tone is melancholic, tinged with a quiet desperation to reconnect with a lost loved one. While the poem maintains a consistent sense of yearning, there's a subtle shift from simply calling out to the lost figure to a declaration of enduring fidelity and a plea for reunion. The poem is wrapped in shadows and longing.

Love's Persistence Against the Odds

One of the central themes is the enduring nature of love. The repeated invocation, "Life of my life," emphasizes the profound connection between the speaker and the absent figure. The lines "I haven't changed, / not turned aside and not estranged" demonstrate the speaker's steadfast commitment despite the separation. The speaker insists that "I and the song are still the same" to show the connection has been unchanged.

Confronting Absence: The Shadow of Loss

The poem also grapples with the theme of loss and absence. The repeated use of the word "shadow" creates a sense of obscurity and fading presence. The speaker's call, "Come to me as the shadows grow long," suggests a waiting period, a time of increasing darkness and loneliness. The question, "How can you find me unless I call?" underlines the speaker's active role in trying to bridge the gap created by loss.

Faith Beyond the Veil

Finally, the poem explores the theme of faith— specifically, faith in the possibility of reunion and the transcendence of love beyond temporal and physical boundaries. The line "Beyond time or place I keep the faith" asserts the speaker's conviction that their bond exists independently of earthly constraints. This is reinforced by the image of following "a path or follow no path," suggesting that the speaker's devotion transcends conventional limitations and searches. The speaker will call out in darkness until the very end, "now at the end."

Images of Twilight: Calling Out

Several recurring images enhance the poem's emotional impact. The "shadows" mentioned throughout the poem are especially powerful. Shadows symbolize not only physical darkness but also the obscurity of the absent loved one and the speaker's own sense of being lost in their absence. The "song" mentioned symbolizes the shared memories and history between the two, a melody that the speaker hopes will still resonate with the lost figure. The repetition of the imperative "call to me, come to me" emphasizes the speaker's active yearning and plea for connection.

The Echo of a Timeless Bond

In conclusion, "what you loved" is a deeply moving expression of unwavering love and longing in the face of absence. Through vivid imagery and a melancholic tone, Gabriela Mistral creates a poem that resonates with anyone who has experienced the pain of separation and the enduring power of love to transcend time and space. The poem leaves the reader pondering the nature of love's persistence and the enduring hope for reunion, even in the deepest shadows of loss.