The ocean said to me once,

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Poème original

The ocean said to me once, "Look! Yonder on the shore Is a woman, weeping. I have watched her. Go you and tell her this — Her lover I have laid In cool green hall. There is wealth of golden sand And pillars, coral-red; Two white fish stand guard at his bier. "Tell her this And more — That the king of the seas Weeps too, old, helpless man. The bustling fates Heap his hands with corpses Until he stands like a child With a surplus of toys."

Traduction

The ocean once told me, "Look! Over there on the shore Is a woman crying. I have been watching her. Go and tell her this — I have placed her lover In a cool green place. There is plenty of golden sand And red coral pillars; Two white fish guard his resting place. "Tell her this And more — That the king of the seas Also cries, an old, helpless man. The busy fates Fill his hands with dead bodies Until he stands like a child With too many toys."

Explication

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.

Dictionnaire des mots

Mot	Sens simple	Traduction	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

The ocean said to me once, — Poème | Poetry Explainer