The Ocean Cries
after Rafael Alberti
Someone cries.
They are crying.
We are crying.
I am going to cry.
They climb my shores and cry.
Someone brooms.
Climbing they cry.
Waves crash, they boom.
Stop the sweeping of the tides.
BUT WE MUST CRY FOR THE FISH
The open air a wonder
lasso the moon with silvery ropes,
& throttle her past Mars to Jupiter
with all of my hopes.
The port beaches around the world die,
boats dig in on land as sculpture studies
sailing in place,
halibut flop on wet sand to end her petulant crying,
the distance to shore shocks the casual bicyclist,
& the cold sharpness of lobster’s claws cut today
though nothing fair as perdition should ever upset,
since I am a God Omnipotent,
& I can sling planets to far Neptune’s length.
The problem solved I want to cry for the fish.
The dame can stop crying, she got what she wished.
7 thoughts on "The Ocean Cries"
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The whole notion of the ocean crying got me from the start. I know this is a surrealist poem, but it makes sense to me. Brilliant beginning, satisfying end.
“The problem solved I want to cry for the fish.” Me too, I want to cry for the fish.
fish heads fish heads roly poly fish heads fish heads fish heads eat em up yum
waste not want not jesus is coming for you Linda wriggle wriggle venus coughed him up
I think the Ocean is salty and a uppity lady bound to smack a man with her lady’s wallet sooner than acquiesce to kind reason.
I’d rather date a fish Linda. They are equally lifeless. But you can eat them.
i like how wet this feels.
I’m particular toward the bicyclists riding the waves.
That hard boiled “dame” at the end is unexpectedly harsh.
Thank you for pointing that out about the word dame in English.
In Spanish it is more than complimentary to say this. If you call a woman a dama (dame) you are honoring her, speaking to her nobility. You are elevating her. Definitely a status word. My brain was stuck somewhere between the languages so the fault in correctly communicating English is mine, Kevin.
If I am not mistaken “dame” is used in pockets of the old guard British royals.
I’m so sorry. It does look tawdry as it is.