The man and the sea

Charles Baudelaire

Free man, always you will cherish the sea !
The sea is your mirror; you contemplate your soul
In the infinite unfolding of his blade,
And your mind is no less bitter abyss.

You enjoy plunging into your image;
You kiss her with your eyes and your arms, and your heart
Sometimes distracted from his own rumor
At the sound of this indomitable and savage complaint.

You are both dark and discreet:
Man, no one has sounded the bottom of your abysses;
O sea, no one knows your intimate riches,
You are so jealous of keeping your secrets!

And yet countless centuries ago
That you fight each other without pity or remorse,
So much do you love carnage and death,
O eternal fighters, O implacable brothers!