Sea-Fever BY JOHN MASEFIELD

 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 seagulls 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.

What is the meaning of the poem Sea Fever?

In English poet John Masefield's "Sea Fever," a speaker passionately insists that he must return to a sailor's life in order to be happy. The freedom of the open sea and a life of travel and adventure call to him, and he wants nothing more than to live out his days on a ship, roaming the ocean.

What type of poem is Sea Fever?

"Sea Fever" is a lyric poem written in simple language. The poem has three stanzas similar in structure. For example, each stanza is a quatrain consisting of two couplets.

What is the tone of the poem Sea Fever?

The tone of the poem seems to be nostalgic or sentimental but also desperate. The speaker is remembering all of the times they had out on the sea, reminiscing in the past. The repetition of the words "I must go down to the seas again" reinforces the desperateness in the narrator's tone.

What is the central theme of Sea Fever?

Adventures, memories, and journeys are the major themes of this poem. The speaker hears a continuous call from the sea, and he says that it is unavoidable. He wishes to break the current situation and return to the adventurous life to enjoy his youth at sea.