The Elegance of Sorrow: Exploring Marine Poems about Death

Poetry has long been a vessel for expressing the deepest emotions and contemplating the profound mysteries of life. Within the realm of marine poetry, the vastness and ethereal beauty of the sea intertwine with themes of mortality and loss, creating a powerful and poignant experience for both the poet and the reader. In this article, we embark on a journey through the somber yet captivating world of marine poems about death, exploring the depths of sorrow and the undeniable allure of the ocean.

Índice
  1. The Sea's Embrace
  2. The Lamentation of Loss
  3. The Eternal Sea

The Sea's Embrace

The sea, with its boundless expanse and relentless waves, has often been metaphorically associated with death. It serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of life, where everything must eventually return to the depths from which it emerged. The following poem by Emily Dickinson, titled "I started Early – Took my Dog," illustrates the enthralling connection between the sea and the eternal sleep of death:

I started Early – Took my Dog

I started Early – Took my Dog –
And visited the Sea –
The Mermaids in the Basement
Came out to look at me –

And Frigates – in the Upper Floor
Extended Hempen Hands –
Presuming Me to be a Mouse –
Aground – upon the Sands –

But no Man moved Me – till the Tide
Went past my simple Shoe –
And past my Apron – and my Belt
And past my Boddice – too –

And made as He would eat me up –
As wholly as a Dew
Upon a Dandelion's Sleeve –
And then – I started – too –

And He – He followed – close behind –
I felt His Silver Heel
Upon my Ankle – Then my Shoes
Would overflow with Pearl –

Until We met the Solid Town –
No One He seemed to know –
And bowing – with a Mighty look –
At me – The Sea withdrew –

Dickinson's vivid imagery and personification of the sea highlight the allure and inevitability of death. The sea, personified as a sentient being, entices the narrator with its mermaids and frigates before engulfing her entirely, only to withdraw when it reaches the town, leaving her in an altered state of existence.

The Lamentation of Loss

Marine poems about death not only explore the sea's association with the end of life, but they also delve into the emotional turmoil experienced by those left behind. These poems often serve as elegies, expressing grief and honoring the memories of loved ones lost at sea. One such poem is "Crossing the Bar" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson:

Crossing the Bar

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

In this poem, Tennyson presents a serene acceptance of death as a journey "crossing the bar" from life to the afterlife. The tranquil imagery of sunset, evening star, and twilight evokes a sense of peace, while the hope of meeting the "Pilot" after the crossing encapsulates the yearning for reunion beyond mortal existence.

The Eternal Sea

Marine poems about death often explore the idea of the sea as a timeless and eternal force, transcending individual lives and serving as a final resting place. The renowned poet William Shakespeare contemplates this concept in his play "The Tempest," particularly in the poignant words of Ariel's song:

Ariel's Song from "The Tempest"

Full fathom five thy father lies,
Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes;
Nothing of him that doth fade,
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.

Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell:
Ding-dong.
Hark! Now I hear them—Ding-dong, bell!

Shakespeare's evocative language conjures an image of transformation and eternal preservation beneath the sea's surface. The sea-change metaphor emphasizes the sea's ability to preserve the essence of those who have passed away, transforming their earthly remains into something extraordinary and otherworldly.

Marine poems about death delve into the profound mysteries of life and mortality, using the sea as a metaphorical canvas to explore the depths of sorrow and the allure of the unknown. Through the works of poets like Emily Dickinson, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, and William Shakespeare, we embark on an emotional journey, contemplating the sea's association with death, the lamentation of loss, and the eternal nature of the ocean itself. These poems remind us of the fragility of life, the inevitability of death, and the enduring power of poetry to give voice to our deepest emotions.

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