To The Foot From Its Child
By Pablo Neruda
Translated by Jodey Bateman
A child’s foot doesn’t know it’s a foot yet
And it wants to be a butterfly or an apple
But then the rocks and pieces of glass,
the streets, the stairways
and the roads of hard earth
keep teaching the foot that it can’t fly,
that it can’t be a round fruit on a branch.
Then the child’s foot
was defeated, it fell
in battle,
it was a prisoner,
condemned to life in a shoe.Little by little without light
it got acquainted with the world in its own way
without knowing the other imprisoned foot
exploring life like a blind man.Those smooth toe nails
of quartz in a bunch,
got harder, they changed into
an opaque substance, into hard horn
and the child’s little petals
were crushed, lost their balance,
took the form of a reptile without eyes,
with triangular heads like a worm’s.
And they had callused over,
they were covered
with tiny lava fields of death,
a hardening unasked for.
But this blind thing kept going
without surrender, without stopping
hour after hour.
One foot after another,
now as a man,
or a woman,
above,
below,
through the fields, the mines,
the stores, the government bureaus,
backward,
outside, inside,
forward,
this foot worked with its shoes,
it hardly had time
to be naked in love or in sleep
one foot walked, both feet walked
until the whole man stopped.And then it went down
into the earth and didn’t know anything
because there everything was dark
it didn’t know it was no longer a foot
or if they buried it so it could fly
or so it could
be an apple.
Summary of To The Foot From Its Child
“To The Foot From Its Child” is a deceptively simple yet profoundly moving poem by the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. Published in 1978 and beautifully translated into English by Jodey Bateman, the poem presents a unique perspective on the human life cycle—not through the eyes of a person, but through the experience of a single foot. It’s a journey from innocent potential to weary acceptance, and finally, to the unknown of death and potential rebirth.
The poem begins with the foot’s initial desire for freedom—to be a butterfly or an apple—before facing the harsh realities of life symbolized by rocks, streets, and hard earth. This sets the stage for the foot’s “imprisonment” within a shoe, representing the constraints and demands of a life lived. Despite this, the foot perseveres, adapting and enduring through various stages of life—childhood, adulthood, work, and finally, death. The ending is ambiguous, hinting at the possibility of renewal, the foot perhaps becoming something new in the earth, a butterfly, or an apple.
At its core, the poem explores themes of limitation, perseverance, and the cyclical nature of life. It’s a meditation on how we adapt to the world, how we carry burdens, and how we ultimately return to the earth, leaving open the question of what comes next.
Analysis of Poetic Devices and Literary Techniques
Neruda masterfully employs a range of literary and poetic devices to create a poem rich in meaning and imagery. Understanding these techniques is crucial to unlocking the poem’s full impact.
Personification
Perhaps the most striking device is the pervasive personification of the foot. Neruda imbues the foot with human qualities, thoughts, and desires. Lines such as “A child’s foot doesn’t know it’s a foot yet / And it wants to be a butterfly or an apple” immediately establish this connection. The foot isn’t just a body part; it’s a character experiencing life.
Metaphor and Symbolism
The entire poem operates as an extended metaphor, with the foot representing the human life journey. Specific elements also carry symbolic weight:
- The shoe: Represents confinement, responsibility, and the burdens of life.
- Rocks and streets: Symbolize the hardships and obstacles encountered along the way.
- The butterfly and apple: Represent freedom, potential, and the longing for something beyond the mundane.
- The earth: Symbolizes both death and rebirth, the cyclical nature of existence.
Imagery
Neruda’s use of vivid imagery appeals to the reader’s senses, creating a powerful and evocative experience. Consider the description of the toenails: “Those smooth toe nails / of quartz in a bunch, / got harder, they changed into / an opaque substance, into hard horn.” This visceral image conveys the toll that time and hardship take on the body.
Anaphora
The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, known as anaphora, is subtly employed to emphasize certain ideas. An example is found in the phrase “without surrender, without stopping,” reinforcing the foot’s relentless perseverance.
Enjambment
Enjambment, the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause, creates a flowing rhythm and draws the reader forward. For example:
Those smooth toe nails
of quartz in a bunch,
got harder, they changed into
an opaque substance, into hard horn
This technique mirrors the continuous, unbroken journey of life.
Diction and Tone
The poem’s language is remarkably simple and direct, contributing to its accessibility and emotional impact. The tone shifts from innocent longing in the beginning to a sense of weariness and acceptance toward the end. However, there is always a quiet dignity and resilience underlying the poem’s observations.
Deeper Dive into Key Sections
The Initial Longing (Stanza 1)
The opening stanza establishes the foot’s initial innocence and desire for freedom. The comparison to a butterfly or apple highlights the longing for a life unburdened by the limitations of physicality. This sets up the central conflict of the poem: the tension between potential and reality.
The Hardening and Endurance (Stanzas 2 & 3)
These stanzas detail the foot’s adaptation to the harsh realities of life. The imagery of hardening, calluses, and “lava fields of death” conveys the physical and emotional toll of perseverance. Yet, despite the suffering, the foot “kept going / without surrender,” demonstrating remarkable resilience.
The Cycle Completes (Stanza 4)
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, with the foot returning to the earth. The ambiguity of the ending—whether the foot is buried to fly or to become an apple—suggests that death is not necessarily an ending, but a transformation—a return to the source from which life springs.
Quotes for Discussion and Analysis
These lines from “To The Foot From Its Child” are particularly resonant and can serve as starting points for deeper discussion:
A child’s foot doesn’t know it’s a foot yet / And it wants to be a butterfly or an apple
This opening establishes the central metaphor and the initial longing for freedom.
But this blind thing kept going / without surrender, without stopping
This highlights the unwavering resilience and perseverance of the foot, and by extension, the human spirit.
And then it went down / into the earth and didn’t know anything / because there everything was dark
This haunting ending encapsulates the mystery of death and the unknown that lies beyond.
“To The Foot From Its Child” is a deceptively simple poem that offers profound insights into the human condition. By carefully analyzing Neruda’s masterful use of imagery, metaphor, and other literary devices, readers can unlock the poem’s full emotional and intellectual power.