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El mar. La mar. by Rafael Alberti — Analysis & Translation

2 min read Spanish

Original Poem

El mar. La mar. El mar. ¡Sólo la mar! ¿Por qué me trajiste, padre, a la ciudad? ¿Por qué me desenterraste del mar? En sueños la marejada me tira del corazón: se lo quisiera llevar. Padre, ¿por qué me trajiste acá?

Translation (English)

The sea. The sea. The sea. Only the sea! Why did you bring me, father, to the city? Why did you unearth me from the sea? In dreams the tide pulls at my heart: it wishes to take it away. Father, why did you bring me here?

About the Poet

Rafael Alberti (20th 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.

Historical Context

Literary Form
Lyric poetry
When Written
1924
Background
The 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.

Sources: https://www.poeticous.com/rafael-alberti/el-mar-la-mar?locale=es, https://www.espoesia.com/el-mar-la-mar-rafael-alberti/, https://poemario.com/mar-mar/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_poetry

Detailed 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.

Themes

  • nostalgia
  • displacement
  • identity
  • nature vs. urban life

Literary Devices

  • 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.

Word Dictionary

Word Meaning Translation Transliteration
El El The El
mar océano sea maar
La La The La
Sólo solamente only Sólo
¿Por por qué why Por
qué por qué why qué
me a mí me me
trajiste llevaste brought tra-his-te
padre papá father pa-dre
a hacia to a
la la the la
ciudad metrópoli city siu-dad
desenterraste sacaste unearthed de-sen-te-ras-te
del de el from the del
En Dentro de In En
sueños ensoñaciones dreams sue-nyos
marejada oleaje tide ma-re-ha-da
tira jala pulls ti-ra
corazón corazón heart co-ra-zon
se a sí mismo it se
lo ello it lo
quisiera desearía would like ki-sie-ra
llevar transportar to take ye-var
acá aquí here a-ca

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