Sea Fever

my photo

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 splume, 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 evocative poem is a favourite of mine since childhood.  It reminds me of my late father who loved the sea and in particular the dramatic and sometimes wild coastline of the south-west.  I have inherited this love too and often yearn to hear the cry of the gulls and the crashing of the waves; to feel the salt-spray in the air ...

The above photographs were taken in a blustery cove in St Ives, Cornwall.