Sea Fever

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.


- John Masefield