Albatross (metaphor) Albatross (metaphor) The word albatross is sometimes used metaphorically to mean a psychological burden that feels like a curse. It is an allusion to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (1798). In the poem, an albatross starts to follow a ship — being followed by an albatross was generally considered a sign of good luck. However, the titular mariner shoots the albatross with a crossbow, which is regarded as an act that will curse the ship (which indeed suffers terrible mishaps). Even when they are too thirsty to speak, the ship's crew let the mariner know
Joseba Sarrionandia and irony. Atxaga speculates on a fifth phase, based on the poem "La vida ha llegado y tiene tus ojos," where the "life that has arrived" could be a child. He has translated books by Samuel Taylor Coleridge ("The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"), Constantine P. Cavafy, T. S. Eliot, Manuel Bandeira, Fernando Pessoa ("Marinela"), Marcel Schwob ("La Croisade des enfants"), Dolf Verroen ("Slaaf kindje slaaf") and various literary works of fifty different languages. Joseba Sarrionandia Joseba Sarrionandia Uribelarrea (Iurreta, Biscay, April 13, 1958 – ) is a Basque writer who has published a large number of books of poetry