Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Wednesday Words - Sea Fever

Last week I used some Milligan as my Wednesday Words.

 I also said if you knew who he was taking off in the second poem I used, to leave me a comment!

 Well, obviously it was John Masefield's "Sea Fever" which is a beautiful piece of writing and very evocative of a day by the sea. I love being at the sea, being around the sea, and mostly I love being in the sea, but sometimes it's too cold - this is the North Norfolk coast after all! Anyway

 Sea Fever, by 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.

See?  Beautiful.

Just beautiful.

I remember several walks along the sea, several times of just being at the sea side, and whilst I have never been in a tall ship, I can almost grasp that which Masefield is after.