Poem 9 — 100 Days of Poetry
About the Poem:
Sea Fever by John Masefield is a classic poem that captures the longing for the open sea. With its rhythmic, flowing verses, Masefield's poem evokes the freedom, adventure, and natural beauty of life at sea. The vivid imagery of tall ships, the wind's song, and the call of the tide speaks to the soul of the adventurer and sailor alike.
John Masefield (1878–1967) served as the UK’s Poet Laureate for 37 years, and Sea Fever is one of his most well-known and beloved poems.
Sea Fever — 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.
My Reflections on the Poem:
Sea Fever is one of those poems that stirs the heart and makes you long for adventure. The rhythm of the verses mimics the movement of the sea, and recording this felt like being swept away on a journey across the ocean.
This post is part of my 100 Days of Poetry series, where I embarked on a journey to record and share 100 poems over 100 days in 2017. Although the series was interrupted, I’m delighted to continue sharing these timeless works with you.
