Guillaume Apollinaire
Of the pretty boat of Port-Vendres
Your eyes were the sailors
And how tender the waves were
In the vicinity of Palos
How many submarines in my soul
Navigate and go waiting for it
The superb ship where
the chorus of your ardent gaze cries out.
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Analysis (AI Assisted)
This poem seems to delve into the idea of longing and the complexities of emotions stirred by memories of a past relationship. The reference to “the pretty boat of Port-Vendres” creates an image of a romantic, idealized journey—one that is both physical and emotional. The eyes of the speaker’s beloved are depicted as the sailors, guiding and navigating the voyage, implying that it is the beloved who steers the speaker’s emotions, and their gaze is the force that shapes the course of their inner world.
The use of “tender waves” conjures a gentle, almost serene atmosphere, suggesting that the relationship was once smooth and harmonious, at least in memory. However, the mention of “submarines in my soul” introduces a more complex, darker layer. Submarines, hidden beneath the surface, evoke a sense of secret or submerged emotions. The “waiting” implies that something unresolved or unspoken is lurking in the depths, perhaps a desire or pain that has not fully surfaced. This stark contrast between the gentle waves and the ominous submarines creates an emotional tension, suggesting that while outward appearances may be calm, there is an underlying turmoil within.
The final image of the “superb ship” and the “chorus of your ardent gaze” brings the focus back to the beloved, whose gaze is powerful and consuming. The ship represents the ultimate destination or fulfillment of this emotional journey, but the “crying out” suggests that it is unattainable or fleeting, leaving the speaker with only the longing and unrequited passion.
This poem captures the tension between longing and loss, between the outward calm of a relationship and the hidden, tumultuous emotions that lie beneath the surface. The metaphor of the boat, the sailors, and the submarines effectively convey the complex emotional journey the speaker is on—caught between the past and the present, between serenity and unresolved yearning.