1.3 POETRY SYMBOLISM

The song i chose is called "At The San Blas dock". It was written and interpreted by the band named MANA. Mana is a pop/rock band from Mexico whose career has expanded more than two decades. They use a lot of symbols and metaphors in their lyrics and that is why i chose their following song in which they talk about this girl who became part of the environment in which she was left, waiting for her lover who never came back:

She said goodbye to her love
He parted in a ship at the San Blas dock
He swore he would come back
And soaked in tears she swore she would wait
A thousand moons passed away,
And she was still at the dock, waiting.
Lots of evenings nestled
In her hair and her lips.
She wore the same dress
In case he would come back,
He would not mistake her.
Crabs bit her dress, her sadness and her illusion.
And time went by,
And her eyes were full of dawns.
She fell in love with the sea
And her body grew roots at the dock.
Alone, alone in oblivion
Alone, alone with her spirit
Alone, alone with her love, the sea
Alone at the San Blas dock

Here are some of the symbols i found in this song with the connotation (C) and denotation (D) meanings:

SHIP: (C) Vessel larger than a boat used to transport people or goods by sea        
           (D) Represents a journey, an exploration, an uncertainty of return.
        
DOCK: (C)  Structure extending from the shore into a body of water
              (D) A place to rest, see the horizon, the outside world, sunrise or sunset, stars, clouds, sky.
            

SOAKED:  (C) To immerse in water or liquid.
                   (D) Represents the amount of tears from the sadness coming from within us or the pain caused by someone.

MOONS: (C)  Natural satellite of the earth, visible by the reflected light from the sun
                 (D) Seasons, time going by, cycles repeating themselves, beauty, light, full of hope, half or empty with nothing left.

EVENINGS: (C) Period of time at the end of the day, usually from 6 p.m. to bedtime
                       (D) End of the day; darkness, silence and coldness approaching, time coming and going.

NESTLED: (C) Settle or lie comfortably within or against something.
                    (D) To become part of a place, to inhabit a place where we keep our love, life, hopes, dreams and activities.

HAIR: (C) A fine threadlike strands growing from the skin of humans, mammals and some other animals
            (D) Women, beauty, sexuality, age, wicked, angel, devil, destruction, etc.

LIPS: (C) Either the two fleshy parts that form the upper and lower edges of the opening of the mouth
          (D) Represents a kiss, sexuality, beauty, love.

DRESS.  (C) Put on one's clothes.
                (D) Body language, personality, identification, emotional state, social status, culture, education.

CRABS: (C) A crustacean with a broad carapace, stalked eyes, and five pairs of legs, pincers being the first ones
                (D) That never moves forward,  painful bites, it has two kinds of lives: water and land.

EYES:  (C) Each of a pair of globular organs in the head through which people and vertebrate animals see.
             (D) Window to the soul, beauty, expression, portal to see and interpret our own world.

DAWNS:  (C) First appearance of light in the sky before sunrise.
                  (D) A new beginning, new hopes, expecting the unexpected, it could be something new or the same as yesterday, light returns, everything comes to life again.

SEA: (C) The expanse of salt water that covers most of the earth's surface and surrounds its landmasses
          (D) Deep, expansive, blue or dark, mysteries, strong; keeps, gives or takes life away, dangerous, beauty, wild, etc.

ROOTS: (C) Part of a plants that attaches it to the ground providing water and nourishment to the rest of the plant.
                (D) To become part of the soil, turn into a plant, not being able to move.

OBLIVION: (C) A state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening.
                      (D) No longer part of this world, ignored by the rest, not to care about anybody else but our dreams, hopes, and illusions.

SPIRIT.  (C) The nonphysical part of a person that is the seat of emotions and character.
               (D) Eternity, indestructible, holy, essence of live. To live forever.

This song talks about a girl who says bye to her lover who went to explore the world or maybe went to war, while holding the promise of coming back to her. She loved him so much that she decided to wait for him exactly at the same place. Years went by and she would still be waiting for him. Days would come and go but without him. After waiting so much for him, she became obsessed for his arrival. She always kept hope so she decided not to change her clothes so just in case he would return, he would recognize her right away. So, time went by and after so much of a wait, she fell in love with the sea and became part of it. People in the town started calling her crazy because she was like a restless spirit staring at the sea. This song is so sad because she grew older and probably died waiting for her lover who never ever came back to her. Mana tries to tell us that when love is real, no matter what happens it will always be there in our souls keeping us strong. They also try to tell us that love can be heaven but it can be destruction at the same time.

http://elerinwen.deviantart.com/art/En-El-Muelle-de-San-Blas-21888330
Mac Book dictionary