El mar. La mar.

Rafael AlbertiSpanish11 lines2 public analyses
Original Poetry
Translation
El mar. La mar.
The sea. The sea.
El mar. ¡Sólo la mar!
The sea. Only the sea!
¿Por qué me trajiste, padre,
Why did you bring me, father,
a la ciudad?
to the city?
¿Por qué me desenterraste
Why did you unearth me
del mar?
from the sea?
En sueños, la marejada
In dreams the tide
me tiea del corazón:
pulls at my heart:
se lo quisiera llevar.
it wishes to take it away.
Padre, ¿por qué me trajiste
Father, why did you bring me
acá?
here?
 

Explanation

This poem by Rafael Alberti expresses a deep longing for the sea, which symbolizes a place of comfort and origin. The repetition of 'El mar. La mar.' emphasizes the poet's fixation on the sea as an idealized space. The speaker questions their father about being brought to the city, away from the sea, suggesting a sense of displacement and loss. The imagery of the tide pulling at the heart in dreams signifies an emotional connection to the sea that remains strong despite physical distance. The poem captures themes of nostalgia, identity, and the tension between natural and urban environments.

Word Dictionary24

WordIn SpanishIn EnglishPron.
ElElTheEl
marocéanoseamaar
LaLaTheLa
SólosolamenteonlySólo
¿Porpor quéwhyPor
quépor quéwhyqué
mea mímeme
trajistellevastebroughttra-his-te
padrepapáfatherpa-dre
ahaciatoa
lalathela
ciudadmetrópolicitysiu-dad
desenterrastesacasteunearthedde-sen-te-ras-te
delde elfrom thedel
EnDentro deInEn
sueñosensoñacionesdreamssue-nyos
marejadaoleajetidema-re-ha-da
tirajalapullsti-ra
corazóncorazónheartco-ra-zon
sea sí mismoitse
loelloitlo
quisieradesearíawould likeki-sie-ra
llevartransportarto takeye-var
acáaquíherea-ca

Poet & Context

Era20th century, Generation of '27

Rafael Alberti was a Spanish poet, a member of the Generation of '27, known for his contributions to Spanish literature during the 20th century. His work often reflects themes of nostalgia and longing, influenced by his experiences during the Spanish Civil War and his subsequent exile.

View on Wikipedia
When1924
WhyThe poem reflects Alberti's nostalgia and longing for the sea, symbolizing a lost paradise or childhood innocence. It was written during a time when Alberti was grappling with his identity and the changes brought by urban life.
FormLyric poetry

Themes & More

nostalgiadisplacementidentitynature vs. urban life
repetition: 'El mar. La mar.' emphasizes the longing for the sea.imagery: vivid descriptions of the sea and tide evoke a strong emotional response.personification: the tide 'pulls at my heart,' giving it human-like qualities.metaphor: the sea represents a lost paradise or childhood innocence.