A dog has died by Pablo Neruda is a eulogy where the writer recollects his dog’s intimacy and personality. This poem narrates the possible bounds between human and animal worlds.
The poet states he buried his pet in the garden to indicate how much he loved the dog. The garden in this poem indicates the everblooming nature of the earth. He denotes the concept of the afterlife too. The writer believes one day nature will produce beautiful flowers from where he buried his beloved dog.
In the second stanza, Neruda foresees his death and hopes he could join his companion sooner. He believes somehow he will get admission into heaven for all dogdom, where his beloved would wave his tail to refresh the friendship.
In the next stanza, the poet distinguishes his dog from other dogs. He states it in the following lines
“he never climbed all over my clothes,
filling me full of his hair or his mange,
he never rubbed up against my knee
like other dogs obsessed with sex.”
He also believes that his dog held a much purer soul than his. He also admits how partial was his dog in the lines,
” with a look that reserved for me alone.”
In the final stanza, the poet recalls the beautiful moments he spent with the dog. By the end of the poem, the readers find the depth of their togetherness.
The poet states his dog accompanied him even in his loneliness. He uses the term winter to denote the intensity of isolation he underwent in his life.
The poem If you forget me by Neruda is a personal note from the poet to his lover.