Who is The lovers of Rapa Nui from Pablo Neruda: Selected Poems and what is their importance?

One of Neruda's poetic passions was bringing life to people of long dead civilizations. He felt in a way that it was his duty, his poetic obligation, to give a voice to these people who could no longer speak for themselves. During one phase of his life, Neruda became fixated upon Rapa Nui, or Easter Island. He longed to understand why the giant stone faces of Easter Island were erected. He wanted to know the people who did this; but the builders of Rapa Nui, it is well known, left no clues as to who they were. Thus, Neruda had to invent a culture that would satisfy his curiosity. In the poem Rain (Rapa Nui), Neruda invents a princess character, who is hiding from the Queen in order to meet her peasant lover in the rain and make love. Neruda takes on the voice of the lover, and a passionate human encounter is described. Neruda's mission is accomplished in this piece, as we are living, breathing and thriving alongside the lovers in the rain. They take on fully-fleshed out human forms, and an ancient imaginary culture is brought to life.