Poem Analysis - March Days Return With Their Covert Light

Overall Impression: A Journey from Murkiness to Passion

Pablo Neruda's "March Days Return With Their Covert Light" is a poem that begins in a state of quiet obscurity and gradually builds towards passionate intensity. The initial tone is muted and suggestive, evoking a sense of hidden movement and subtle shifts in the natural world. As the poem progresses, a powerful sense of love and awakening emerges, culminating in a vision of transformation and release. The mood shifts from one of hushed observation to fervent celebration, driven by the force of love and imagination.

The Awakening Power of Love

One of the central themes in this poem is the transformative power of love. Neruda presents love as a force that can bridge seemingly disparate realms, such as "the lives of the sea to that of fire." This unification suggests love's ability to transcend boundaries and create harmony where there was once division. The image of love carving "the form that love carved in the guitar" is particularly potent, as it evokes the creation of beauty and artistry through the passionate energy of love.

The Sea as a Symbol of Emotion and Unrest

The sea serves as a recurring symbol of both emotional depth and potential chaos. Initially, the sea is characterized by "huge fish" swimming through the sky, suggesting a world where the natural order is fluid and dreamlike. However, it also carries "cargoes and rages," indicating its capacity for turmoil and destruction. Love, in this context, acts as a calming influence, allowing the sea to "forget its cargoes and rages" and find completion in the sky. This implies that love can bring peace and resolution to inner conflicts.

Darkness, Light, and the Subconscious

The interplay between darkness and light is another key element in the poem. The "covert light" of March days sets a tone of subtle revelation, as if secrets are gradually being unveiled. However, the poem also moves towards a final embrace of "darkness's nets," suggesting a surrender to the unknown or the subconscious. This could be interpreted as a necessary step in the process of transformation, a willingness to confront the hidden aspects of oneself in order to achieve a deeper understanding and fulfillment. The image of waking "the blood in insomnia's labyrinth" reinforces this idea of delving into the depths of the subconscious to find new vitality.

Final Insights: Love's Unifying Vision

In conclusion, "March Days Return With Their Covert Light" is a rich and evocative poem that explores the transformative power of love in a world characterized by both beauty and uncertainty. Neruda uses vivid imagery and symbolic language to convey love's ability to bridge divides, quell unrest, and ultimately lead to a state of profound release and acceptance. The poem invites us to consider the ways in which love can illuminate the hidden corners of our own lives and bring us closer to a sense of wholeness and peace.