Sea Fever

[Oil on Canvas]

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
as 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