Sea Fever Poem

The page includes the poem Sea Fever by John Masefield.

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.

Bliss, WBBSE Page-48

---

Thank you for reading the poem. You can also read My Own True Family by Ted Hughes.

Word Notes:

1. steer– To control the direction of movement.
2. spume– foam
3. whetted– sharpened
4. yarn– tale
5. fellow-rover– accompanying sailor
6. trick– journey