Alfonsina Y El Mar

“Alfonsina Y El Mar” by El Consorcio is a hauntingly beautiful tribute to the Argentine poet Alfonsina Storni, who tragically ended her life by walking into the sea. The song’s lyrics are imbued with a sense of melancholy and reverence, capturing the poet’s final moments and her eternal connection with the ocean. The imagery of the “blanda arena” (soft sand) and the “agua profunda” (deep water) paints a vivid picture of Alfonsina’s last steps, emphasizing the solitude and silence that accompanied her final journey.

The song delves into the emotional turmoil that Alfonsina must have experienced, with lines like “Sabe Dios que angustia te acompañó” (God knows what anguish accompanied you) and “que dolores viejos calló tu voz” (what old pains your voice silenced). These lyrics suggest a deep, unspoken suffering that led her to seek solace in the sea. The reference to the “caracolas marinas” (sea shells) singing in the dark depths of the ocean symbolizes a comforting lullaby, perhaps the only solace she could find in her despair.

As the song progresses, it becomes a poetic farewell, with Alfonsina being carried away by “cinco sirenitas” (five little mermaids) and “fosforescentes caballos marinos” (phosphorescent sea horses). This fantastical imagery transforms her tragic end into a serene and almost magical departure, where the sea creatures play and accompany her. The repeated plea to “Bájame la lámpara un poco más” (Lower the lamp a little more) and the request to tell anyone who calls that “Alfonsina no vuelve” (Alfonsina is not coming back) underscore her finality and desire for peace. The song is a poignant reflection on the poet’s life, her struggles, and her ultimate surrender to the sea, leaving a lasting impression of beauty and sorrow intertwined.