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.