Sea Fever
by John Masefield
I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.
I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.
This was my late father’s favorite poem, the only one I ever recall him reciting from memory. He joined the Navy at age 17 and stayed in it until he was 46. Throughout much of his Naval career and during most of his post-retirement life, he went off-shore and deep-sea fishing on a regular basis. I grew up eating the albacore, yellow fin and big eye tuna that he brought home, and his old den at home is covered with photos of sail- and swordfish that he caught in various parts of the world. He’s been gone for 12 years now — his ashes scattered into the Pacific near one of his favorite fishing spots, the Coronado Islands off of Baja California — but your posting made me smile and think of him again. Thank you. ..bruce..Report
Yeah good poem. Only down side to living in the Midwest is the lack of the Atlantic.Report
First read this poem in the 6th Grade, never did forget it.Report
Excellent choice. This is one of my all time favorites.Report
Yes. Just yes.Report