Call of the Sea

Sea FeverBy John Masefield

I must go down to the seas againto the lonely sea and sky
And all I ask is a tall shipand a star to steer her by
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song
and the white sail’s shaking
And a gray mist on the sea’s face,
and a gray dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again
for the call of the running tideIs a wild call
and a clear callThat may not be denied
And all I ask is a windy daywith 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 lifeTo the gull’s way
and the whale’s waywhere the wind’s like a whetted knife
And all I ask is a merry yarnfrom a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream
when the long trick’s over.