Poems

Sea Fever By John Masefield

I must go 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 sails shaking,

and a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go 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 seagulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again to the vagrant gypsy life,

to the gull's way and the whale's way where the winds like a whetted knife;

and all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow rover

and a quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.