Sweetness refers to the universal and direct flavor of a poem, not to a mandatory tone. The narrator reminds the reader that verses should speak both "the bites and kisses of love," (line 15). The extended metaphor of sweetness also symbolizes the nourishing aspect of poetry, as the narrator longs for "eatable sonnets," (line 16). In the fourth stanza, the narrator reminds the reader of the corruption of poetry. The fourth stanza therefore alludes to the first. "Vanity," notes the narrator, leads to "deep and useless" endeavors (lines 18; 20). In attempting vainglorious works of art, a poet forgets "the joyous / love-needs of our bodies," (lines 22, 23). The body's love-needs refers to all the visceral desires felt by the everyday person. Furthermore, the poet who relies on the "harsh machinery" mentioned in the first stanza is also "not feeding the world," (line 25). Here, the narrator reiterates the essential nourishing feature of genuine poetry. Poetry should feed pastries to the soul, suggests the narrator.

The fifth stanza transports the reader to Madras, where the narrator claims to have seen a "sugary pyramid, / a tower of confectionary," (lines 27, 28). The symbolic tower displays "one level after another" of "blushing delights," (lines 29; 31). The narrator purposely does not mention exactly what the Indian masterpiece was because its sweetness alone was meaningful. A poem is valuable not in terms of its embellishments, as suggested in stanza one. A poem is valuable because of the impact it leaves on the reader. Moreover, the reference to India also stresses the universality of poetry. Sweet poetry is accessible to all, regardless of geography, time, or culture.

The narrator continues the sentiments about universality in the seventh stanza of the poem. Between the fifth...

The sixth stanza comprises just two pithy lines: "Someone soiled his hands / to cook up so much sweetness," (lines 33, 34). Although brief, the sixth stanza encapsulates the central theme of the poem. The phrase "soiled his hands" refers back to the imagery of a stained bed. By exploring the mundane, a poet can elevate the senses. Poetry must appeal to the everydayness of life. The phrase "to cook up so much sweetness" refers to the spiritually nourishing and universally sweet quality of genuine poetry.
The seventh stanza celebrates the works of poets "from earth and sky," dead and alive (line 36). Poets from all walks of life and places on the planet have created universally appealing verses that nourish the soul with symbolic "honeycomb," (line 39). The last line in the stanza is also the only other place in "Sweetness, Always" besides the first stanza where Neruda uses a rhetorical question. Only this time, the question is directed at the canon of great poets. In one of two orphaned verses, the narrator states, "Let's forget about all that stone," (line 40). Here, the narrator takes on a more urgent tone. He implores poets to feed the minds of readers, and to forget about the fancy elements that clutter the craft. The narrator places himself both in the role of poet and reader when he states, "Let your poetry fill up / the equinoctial pastry shop / our mouths long to devour," (lines 41-43). In the second orphaned verse of the poem, the narrator issues a direct statement: "Don't be afraid of sweetness," (line 49).

The final stanza of "Sweetness, Always" wraps up the main ideas of the poem and continues the extended metaphor. Sweetness is described as "infinitely alive," and something that transcends time,…