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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.
- John Masefield
British poet John Edward Masefield was born in...
- John Masefield
A poem that expresses a profound desire for the open sea and a life of adventure. The speaker yearns for the physical sensations of sailing, the freedom of the open ocean, and the camaraderie of fellow sailors.
Sea Fever - I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky.
Learn about the themes, symbols, poetic devices, and context of John Masefield's "Sea Fever," a poem about a sailor's longing for the open sea. Read the full text, line-by-line explanations, and external resources on LitCharts.
Text of the Poem. 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.
‘Sea Fever’ is brief and simple, yet its lyrical composition, repeated refrain, and poetic devices render it a perfect poem to be both read aloud or reflected upon in solitude. John Masefield’s ‘Sea Fever’ is perhaps his most well-known work and describes the poet’s longing to go to sea.
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.
