"Le Cimetière marin"

"Le Cimetière marin" ("The Graveyard by the Sea") is a poem by Paul Valéry that explores themes of mortality, the passage of time, and the reflection on life's transience. Set against a seaside landscape, it portrays a peaceful, contemplative mood where the sea symbolizes eternal change and the cemetery represents human mortality. The poem invites readers to consider the balance between life's fleeting nature and the desire for permanence, emphasizing introspection and the acceptance of life's inevitable cycle of death and renewal. It is renowned for its philosophical depth and poetic elegance.