The Light Wraps You
The lines have an obvious connection to the title and so as the theme of the poem, as well. The line is only an example of the exchanging ideas of ‘dark’ and ‘light’ observed in the whole poem. It could be seen that the persona (an obvious man) is experiencing a certain feeling of darkness as maybe a result of being lonely and tired. Now, he sees the woman as a source of light. We could now see a contrast being seen by the persona, therefore, finds him with strong desire to the opposite side of things (attraction.) Then, the man feels the importance of the woman in his life, because he feels this powerlessness and weakness, which can only be neutralized by the presence of the woman. He, then, sees that a woman is very significant in the existence of mankind (as further told in the last stanza), and he longs for it.
The line above signifies morning, or sunrise, a guarantee or assurance of light (which he sees in the woman), therefore, giving him satisfaction after the darkness (night) which he has just gone through. He knew he would feel relief upon the presence of the woman, wherein we can now conclude that he recognizes the ability of the woman. It is not sexual but more of the warmth (related to light) brought about by her presence. He expresses this longing through the poem.
2. Although it may seem that Pablo Neruda’s poems express strong desire for the physical body of the woman, there is still a clear statement of his frustration due to the absence of the woman. This desire shows a “spiritual longing” since he misses the presence of his lover (?) where he finds satisfaction. The expressions of desire to the body is simply a manifestation of his intense longing because he could only describe the physical aspect of objects (and it is difficult to describe space (?) which is left by the woman, the ‘spiritual side’ or ‘presence.’)
Therefore, Pablo Neruda sees love and desire as something deeper than the ‘body.’ He has this passion (which makes the persona seem to be crying, pleading) for the company of the woman, which is not entirely physical. He truly, deeply, madly loves the woman that upon losing her, he feels this great emptiness which results to his feelings of sorrow and pain, then, towards desire for it to end, which is to bring the lady back, which is what his poems seem to be all about.
