The ocean has long captured the imagination of poets, inspiring a wide range of literary works that explore the vastness, beauty, mystery, and power of the sea. While the ocean is a recurring theme in the works of famous poets like Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, and Lord Byron, there are many lesser-known poems that delve into the depths of the ocean’s symbolic meaning and its connection to the human experience. This article highlights 11 such poems that may not be as widely recognized but are just as rich in imagery and thematic depth. Each section will explore an excerpt from the poem, provide an analysis, and examine how the ocean serves as a powerful metaphor for life, nature, and the unknown.
1. “The Sea and the Skylark” by Gerard Manley Hopkins
“My soul is a lantern, and my will,
A bird, wild and free;
Yet over the sea is the sun’s bright wing,
The sea and the skylark with me.”
Gerard Manley Hopkins‘ The Sea and the Skylark is a striking example of how the poet intertwines nature and the divine in his work. In this poem, the sea symbolizes both the physical world and the spiritual vastness that the poet experiences. The skylark, a creature that soars high above the sea, becomes an emblem of freedom and transcendence. Hopkins’ use of alliteration, such as in the line “wild and free,” emphasizes the untamed nature of the ocean and the spiritual freedom it evokes. This poem reflects Hopkins’ broader religious themes, where the ocean represents the infinite nature of God’s creation and the infinite possibilities for the human soul.
2. “The Old Man and the Sea” by Stephen Crane
“And the old man sailed out to the sea again.
He was on a voyage of no return.
The sea was a wall, and he was a man
Lost in the fold of that great wall.”
Stephen Crane, best known for his novel The Red Badge of Courage, also penned striking poems that dealt with humanity’s struggle against nature. In “The Old Man and the Sea,” Crane explores the internal and external battles a man faces as he confronts the mighty ocean. The sea here is a formidable, almost sentient force, acting as both antagonist and symbol of the vast, indifferent universe.
3. “Sea Fever” by John Masefield
“I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.”
John Masefield’s Sea Fever is one of the most beloved poems about the sea, expressing the poet’s deep yearning for the freedom and adventure that the ocean represents. The poem’s rhythm mirrors the rhythmic motion of the sea itself, and the refrain “I must go down to the seas again” speaks to an undeniable pull towards the open water.
4. “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold
“The Sea of Faith
Was once, too, at the full, and round earth’s shore
Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled.”
Matthew Arnold’s Dover Beach uses the sea as a metaphor for the ebb and flow of faith and human belief. Set on the coast of England, the poem contrasts the serene beauty of the ocean with the underlying despair that pervades the speaker’s view of the world. The “Sea of Faith” is a metaphor for the religious and moral certainties that once gave life structure and meaning but are now receding, leaving humanity to face an uncertain and tumultuous existence.
5. “The Ocean” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
“The ocean is the mirror of the earth;
It shows its moods and whispers to the shore.
The land is the fixed body; the sea is the restless soul.”
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Ocean provides a philosophical meditation on the relationship between land and sea. The sea is depicted as the restless, ever-changing counterpart to the stability and permanence of the land. The ocean’s moods reflect the inner turmoil of the human soul, constantly shifting and reflecting the state of the world.
6. “The Calm” by Tennyson
“The sea is calm tonight.
The tide is full, the moon lies fair
Upon the straits; on the French coast the light
Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand,
Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay.”
In The Calm, Alfred Lord Tennyson reflects on the peace and serenity of the sea, offering a contrast to the often turbulent and restless nature of the ocean in other poems. The tranquil bay and the full tide evoke a sense of balance and stillness, allowing the poet to contemplate life’s deeper meanings in a moment of quiet.
7. “The Kraken” by Alfred Lord Tennyson
“Below the thunders of the upper deep;
Far, far beneath in the abysmal sea,
His ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep
The Kraken sleepeth: faintest sunlights flee
About his shadowy sides.”
Tennyson’s The Kraken is a haunting exploration of the mysteries that lie deep beneath the ocean’s surface. The Kraken, a mythical sea monster, symbolizes the unknown, the monstrous, and the unconscious mind. Tennyson’s description of the creature as “sleeping” suggests that these unknown forces are dormant, waiting to rise and wreak havoc when least expected.
8. “The Sea” by James Reeves
“The sea is a hungry dog,
Giant and grey.
He comes on with a rumbling sound,
And licks his paws as he goes away.”
In The Sea, James Reeves uses simple, almost childlike language to describe the power and unpredictability of the ocean. By likening the sea to a “hungry dog,” Reeves evokes a sense of both the sea’s vast, animalistic energy and its unpredictable nature. The image of the sea licking its paws as it retreats suggests that while the ocean can be overwhelming, it also has moments of calm and withdrawal.
9. “The Abyss” by Henry Vaughan
“My soul, whose nature is to climb,
Aspires to reach the sea,
And look beyond the mountain rim
Where dreams may cease to be.”
Henry Vaughan’s The Abyss explores the yearning for transcendence and the desire to connect with something greater than oneself. The sea in this context represents a boundary between the known and the unknown, the earthly and the spiritual. Vaughan’s imagery suggests that the ocean serves as a bridge to the infinite, a realm where human aspirations can find fulfillment.
10. “The Sea is History” by Derek Walcott
“The sea is history.
The sea, the sea is the blood of the earth.”
In The Sea is History, Derek Walcott offers a powerful meditation on the connection between the ocean and the history of humanity. For Walcott, the sea is not just a physical entity but a living record of human suffering, survival, and progress. It bears witness to the ages, holding the memories of civilizations that have come and gone.
11. “The Ocean” by Emily Dickinson
“The Ocean is a mighty thing
To be expressed in words.
It sounds and wails, but cannot sing
Its feelings in the birds.”
Emily Dickinson’s The Ocean explores the idea that the ocean is a living, breathing entity, full of emotions that cannot be fully understood or captured by human words. The sea’s wails and sounds are like an expression of its own turmoil, but its true feelings remain beyond human comprehension.
Conclusion
The ocean, with its endless horizon and deep mysteries, continues to be a powerful muse for poets throughout history. From the turbulent forces of nature to the quiet contemplation of the self, the ocean’s symbolic meanings are as vast and varied as the sea itself. These 11 lesser-known poems demonstrate the sea’s ability to reflect the human condition in all its complexity—its beauty, its power, and its inexorable pull. Whether seen as a metaphor for spiritual longing, historical memory, or the mysteries of existence, the ocean remains an enduring source of inspiration for poets and readers alike.
