La Mar

Some fishermen in Cuba
Call the ocean
La mar.
They say others call her
El mar,
But those who do are
Young and foolish,
And do not
Know
What it means to be
Conquered,
And at peace.

Those who are wise,
They say,
Know that she takes,
And she gives.
That when she is wild,
And cruel,
It is because she could never be
Otherwise,
That when she is willful,
And calm,
It is because she could never live
Another way.

Those who know this,
They say,
Can see how the moon
Affects her,
Like a woman,
And yet how humbled
Are those
Who are bathed in her
Presence.