Like the Sea - Finding Harmony in the Chaos and Calm of Humanity's Ebbs and Flows
Doug Hohulin
To Save 1 Billion Lives with AI, When the AI System Has to Be Right: Healthcare, AV, Policy. Co-Author of Tech Power Healing: The Future of Medicine in the AI Age; and 2030: A Blueprint for Humanity's Exponential Leap
On Mary Oliver's Poem Celebrating the Beauty of Water in Poetry "The Sea"
Like the Sea - An Echo and Reflection of “The Sea”
The sea can be wild, a tempest of fury, hurling its voice against the cliffs, its foam-fingers clawing at the shore, an orchestra of chaos.
And yet, it knows smoothness too, a silk ribbon unspooling, breathing soft lullabies to the sand, its surface gleaming like polished glass, inviting, serene.
It gives gifts— shells cradling the whispers of waves, pearls birthed from patience, a glint of sunlight caught and held in its vast, undulating heart.
But it can withhold as well, turn stubborn, retreating, pulling treasures back into its depths, its stillness a quiet defiance.
And are we not the same? Each of us a sea, capable of storms and sweetness, of giving and holding back. We rise, we ebb, we froth with laughter or fury, we sweet-talk entirely.
Oh, to learn the balance— to smooth the sharp edges of our waves, to temper the chaos with kindness, to be the tide that connects, flowing toward one another, bringing gifts, bearing love, a celebration of what we share: a rhythm, a pulse, an ocean in each heart.
Finding Harmony in the Chaos and Calm of Humanity's Ebbs and Flows
Human relationships are as vast and intricate as the sea itself. They ebb and flow, rise and crash, creating a symphony of chaos and calm. In Mary Oliver’s The Sea and the echo of that poem Like the Sea, this connection between humanity and the ocean takes center stage. These poems reflect on the dualities within us and inspire a deeper appreciation for the balance we can strive to achieve.
This article explores how these two works illuminate the beauty and complexity of human relationships, offering a vision of harmony amidst life’s unpredictability.
The Sea: A Portrait of Duality
In The Sea, Mary Oliver paints the ocean as both wild and serene:
"The sea can do craziness, it can do smooth, it can lie down like silk breathing or toss havoc shoreward; it can give gifts or withhold all."
Her words remind us of the ocean’s capacity to embody extremes. It can soothe or rage, nurture or destroy, much like human emotions and interactions. This duality resonates with how we navigate our connections—sometimes offering kindness and stability, other times caught in the storms of misunderstanding.
Oliver concludes with a reflection on humanity’s shared nature:
"As I can too, and so, no doubt, can you, and you."
Here, she shifts the focus to us, inviting readers to consider their own inner seas. We too are capable of great smoothness and wildness, of sweet-talking entirely or tossing havoc shoreward.
Like the Sea: An Invitation to Unity
Building on Oliver’s vision, the poem Like the Sea delves into humanity’s shared experience:
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"Each of us a sea, capable of storms and sweetness, of giving and holding back. We rise, we ebb, we froth with laughter or fury, we sweet-talk entirely."
This poem broadens the metaphor to emphasize interconnectedness. Each of us, like a wave, contributes to a greater whole. The image of seashells and pearls scattered along the shore symbolizes the gifts and lessons we share when we connect with intention and empathy.
Where Oliver marvels at our duality, Like the Sea calls us to action. It challenges us to “smooth the sharp edges of our waves,”
A poetic plea for self-awareness and harmony. By tempering chaos with compassion, we can build relationships that honor both individuality and unity.
Comparing Themes: Chaos, Calm, and Connection
Both poems celebrate the complexities of human relationships, yet they approach these themes differently:
Together, these poems create a fuller picture of what it means to be human: a being capable of storms, yet destined for harmony.
Lessons from the Ocean
The metaphor of the sea resonates deeply because it mirrors our shared experience. Like the ocean, we are:
By understanding these qualities, we can approach our connections with greater empathy. Navigating relationships, like navigating the ocean, requires patience and awareness of the currents beneath the surface.
A Call for Harmony
In the end, both poems invite us to strive for balance. They remind us that, while chaos is part of life, so too is the capacity for calm. The challenge lies in choosing which to nurture.
As Like the Sea suggests, the treasures of unity—understanding, compassion, love—are worth the effort. These gifts are as beautiful and enduring as seashells scattered along the shore.
The Sea and Like the Sea are reflections on the nature of humanity. They celebrate our ability to rise and ebb, to froth with laughter or fury, and ultimately to connect.
In a world often marked by discord, these poems offer a vision of hope. By embracing the sea within us, we can navigate life’s challenges with greater harmony.
We are, after all, part of the same ocean—an interconnected body of individuals, capable of chaos but destined for calm. Through self-awareness and connection, we can find our rhythm, creating a world where humanity thrives amidst the ebbs and flows of life.
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Written with the aid of AI (ChatGPT) but prompted and edited by me.