Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SEA-FEVER by JOHN MASEFIELD

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: I MUST GO DOWN TO THE SEAS AGAIN, TO THE LONELY SEA AND THE SKY
Last Line: AND QUIET SLEEP AND A SWEET DREAM WHEN THE LONG TRICK'S OVER.
Subject(s): SEA; TRAVEL; WANDERING & WANDERERS; OCEAN; JOURNEYS; TRIPS; WANDERLUST; VAGABONDS; TRAMPS; HOBOES;
I must 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 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 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.



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