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 gray mist on the seas's face and a gray 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 blow 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