Canto XII - Pablo Neruda

the poem is about the struggle and sacrifice that the proletariat is forced to undergo at the hands of the ruling class. in the poem the ancient Inca civilization, and their endless toil is a mirror for the modern working class. the narrator wishes to experience the hearts, minds and souls of the indigenous population. the speaker is paying homage to all workers as well as the Incas. through this honoring, the narrator wishes to absorb the anguish of his ancestors and eventually build and transform from their strength.