Sea Fever

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.

John Masefield

An old favourite for National Poetry Day and this year's theme, "Water, water, everywhere", and to illustrate it, plenty of "flung spray" and "blown spume" on the beach in Lewis.

Comments

[Adele Geras]

One of my fave poems since I was about 8,! Learned it by heart then and am still word perfect...learning poems as kid gives you treasures in your head as you approach 70! Happy Nat. Poetry day!

[Cornflower]

One of my top favourites, too, and I love John Ireland's setting of it - perfect!

[Sue]

One of my favourites too along with Cargoes. Thank you.

[Cornflower]

Snap! I was swithering between Sea Fever and Cargoes, because I love it too, but I don't think I have any good boat pictures to go with the latter!

[Lyn]

Lovely poem & Bryn Terfel sings the Ireland setting beautifully.

[Ann]

I agree with Adele - the poems I learnt off by heart when young (thank you UK Poetry Society!) are still as fresh as ever. Wish I'd learnt more then! The photograph goes so well with the poem - it's lovely. Thank you.

[Barbara]

We sang it at school, so I can't read the poem without singing it in my head! I love it, also Cargoes, another I can sing right through. What a nice choice.

[Margaret Powling]

Yes, one of my favourite poems, too! I'm not a great poetry fan (much preferring prose), but this one is superb.

[Liz Davey]

Oh dear. I read the first line and immediately thought of Spike Milligan's take on this poem. Shame faced ...

[Cornflower]

Amazing how these things 'stick', isn't it?

[Cornflower]

Off to find that recording! Thank you, Lyn.

[Cornflower]

The rain and wind that day were something to behold, but great fun was had by humans and canines!

[Cornflower]

Glad I chose what seems to be a favourite for many, Margaret.

[Cornflower]

I don't know the Spike Milligan version, Liz, but perhaps I'd better not go in search of it!

[Lindsay]

One of my mother's favourites - and read at her funeral by my friend Dominic.

[Cornflower]

A very good choice on both counts, I should think.

[Erika]

Yes!

Cargoes, Sea Fever and, for me, also "The Night Mail and some of Vachel Lindsay's Lindsay's poems. ("Death is an elephant, torch-eyed and terrible...") They have the compulsive memorability of nursery rhymes. Is it the underlying rhythm that seems connected to singing and dancing?

[Erika]

P.S.

Do go to the Spike Milligan--you will love it.

[Mrs. Pom]

Your accompanying photo of the labs by the sea gave me such a rush of wanderlust that I almost ditched work and threw my two into the car to drive straight to Cape Cod. Alas, practicality prevailed. Thanks for the sea change!