Sea Fever by John Masefield
By: Academy of American Poets (Poets. org)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
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 sail's 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 sea-gulls 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 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.
From Poems (The Macmillan Company, 1917) by John Masefield. This poem is in the public domain.
Description by Poemotopia Editors
“Sea Fever” is one of the best-loved poems of John Masefield, former Poet Laureate of England. This poem was first published in Masefield’s first book of verse, Salt-Water Ballads in 1902. In this poem, Masefield describes his excitement concerning the sea, its fulfilling waves, and adventurous voyages. The title of the poem gives a hint of the poet’s childhood excitement whenever he thought about the sea. This poem vividly portrays the feelings of the speaker. Its musical verses take readers away on a journey by a tall ship, on the endless, vast sea.
Courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
John Edward Masefield was an English poet and children’s fiction writer born June 1, 1878, in Ledbury, Herefordshire, England. Following the deaths of both his parents, six-year-old Masefield, now under the guardianship of his aunt, was sent to board at the King’s School in Warwick (now, the Warwick School). In 1891, seeking to break his “addiction” to reading as well as train him for a naval career, Masefield’s aunt sent him to embark on the HMS Conway.
The Code of Conduct and Terms of Service must be complied with.
Any comment posted about politics or religion not relevant to the English Literature articles that are posted will be deleted.
The administrator reserves the right to delete any comment he considers to be offensive, off topic or of no value.
Videos or images or links to sources that the Administration cannot open must be described or explained when requested or they will be deleted.
Tags
Who is online
74 visitors
This is the 4th of my favourite 5 poems. I have already posted articles about Trees by Joyce Kilmer, The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost and Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The last one will be Snake by D.H.Lawrence.