Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Jorge Luis Borges' poem "Sea" is a profound meditation on the eternal nature of the sea and its role as a timeless, elemental force that predates and outlasts human existence. The poem contemplates the sea’s vastness and mystery, framing it as both a literal and symbolic entity that represents the unknowable and the sublime. Through his characteristic blend of philosophical inquiry and lyrical expression, Borges explores themes of time, identity, and the limits of human understanding.

The poem opens with the assertion that "Before our human dream (or terror) wove / Mythologies, cosmogonies, and love, / Before time coined its substance into days," the sea existed. Borges immediately establishes the sea as something ancient and primordial, existing long before human beings began to create their own narratives about the world. The sea is depicted as an entity that transcends human concerns, existing in a time before time itself was divided into the days and nights that structure human life. This timelessness of the sea sets it apart from the transient nature of human existence and the constructs humans have created to make sense of the world.

The line "The sea, the always sea, existed: was" underscores the idea that the sea is a constant, unchanging presence. Borges uses the simple, yet profound, phrase "was" to convey the sea’s eternal existence, emphasizing its permanence in contrast to the ephemeral nature of human life. The repetition of "the always sea" reinforces the idea that the sea has always been there, an unalterable fact of the universe that is indifferent to the passage of time and the rise and fall of human civilizations.

Borges then asks, "Who is the sea? Who is that violent being, / Violent and ancient, who gnaws the foundations / Of earth?" By personifying the sea as a "violent being," Borges imbues it with a sense of agency and power. The sea is not merely a body of water but a force that actively shapes and erodes the earth, demonstrating its dominance over the physical world. The sea is described as both "one and many oceans," a paradox that reflects its complexity and the multitude of experiences it encompasses. It is both a singular entity and a collection of vast, interconnected bodies of water, symbolizing the duality of unity and multiplicity within nature.

The sea is further characterized as "abyss and splendor, chance and wind," a description that captures its multifaceted nature. The sea embodies both the terrifying and the beautiful, the random and the predictable. It is an abyss, suggesting depth and mystery, as well as splendor, evoking images of beauty and grandeur. The mention of "chance and wind" highlights the sea’s unpredictability and the way it is governed by forces beyond human control.

Borges then shifts to the human experience of the sea: "Who looks on the sea, sees it the first time, / Every time, with the wonder distilled / From elementary things." This observation suggests that the sea retains its ability to inspire awe and wonder each time it is encountered, no matter how familiar it may seem. The sea’s power to evoke a sense of the sublime comes from its connection to "elementary things"—the fundamental aspects of nature and existence, such as "beautiful / Evenings, the moon, the leap of a bonfire." These elemental experiences are timeless and universal, resonating with something deep within the human psyche.

The poem concludes with a profound existential question: "Who is the sea, and who am I?" Borges connects the mystery of the sea with the mystery of the self, suggesting that both are equally unfathomable. The final line, "The day / That follows my last agony shall say," implies that the answers to these questions may only be revealed in death, when the boundaries of individual identity and time dissolve. This ending reflects Borges’ recurring themes of death, the infinite, and the search for meaning in the face of the unknown.

In "Sea," Borges uses the sea as a metaphor for the eternal and the infinite, exploring its role as a symbol of both the sublime and the terrifying aspects of existence. The poem invites the reader to contemplate the nature of the sea, and by extension, the nature of the self, ultimately leaving us with the understanding that both remain profound mysteries, beyond the full grasp of human knowledge. Through his evocative imagery and philosophical depth, Borges transforms the sea into a powerful symbol of the unknowable forces that shape our world and our lives.

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