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.
John Masefield (1878 – 1967)
