The ocean said to me once,
The poem by Stephen Crane presents a conversation between the speaker and the ocean, personifying the ocean as a sentient being capable of observing and communicating. The ocean tells the speaker about a woman weeping on the shore because her lover has died. The ocean has laid her lover to rest in a beautiful underwater setting, described with imagery of golden sand and coral-red pillars, guarded by two white fish. This setting contrasts with the woman's sorrow, suggesting a peaceful afterlife. The ocean also shares that the 'king of the seas' weeps as well, overwhelmed by the fates that bring him an abundance of corpses, likening him to a child with too many toys. This metaphor highlights the helplessness and inevitability of death and fate, themes often explored by Crane. The poem uses vivid imagery and personification to convey emotions of loss and resignation.
| Word | In English | Plain (English) | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| yonder | over there | in that direction, at some distance | yon-der |
| weeping | crying | crying | weep-ing |
| bier | platform for a coffin | platform for a coffin | beer |
| surplus | extra | extra | sur-plus |
| fates | destinies | forces determining events | fayts |
| coral | marine organism structure | hard, colorful sea structure | kor-al |
| pillars | columns | upright structures | pil-lars |
| helpless | powerless | unable to help oneself | help-less |
| bustling | busy | full of activity | bus-tling |
| corpse | dead body | body of a deceased person | korps |
Stephen Crane (1871–1900) was an American poet, novelist, and short story writer known for his innovative works in the Realist tradition. He gained fame with his Civil War novel 'The Red Badge of Courage' and wrote notable pieces in American Naturalism and Impressionism. Crane's life was marked by financial struggles and ill health, and he died at the age of 28.
View on Wikipedia