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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 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 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.

Notes

From SALT-WATER POEMS AND BALLADS, by John Masefield, published by the Maxmillan Co., NY, © 1913, p. 55; the poem was first published in SALT-WATER BALLADS, © 1902.

Masefield's use of the word "trick" indicates a period of duty on a specific task such as handling the wheel or lookout.
Most printed texts have "go down to the seas" in the first line despite the obvious grammatical error and so we use that version here.

The header graphic by Charles Pears was used to illustrate this poem in Salt-Water Poems and Ballads, by John Masefield, published by The Macmillan Co., New York, US, © 1944, facing p. 72.

Jim Saville

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Comments

1 - 17 of 17
  • arrizonda
    October 15
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    Exquisite saddness.

    When I was a small boy my father, a merchant seaman during WW11 would often recite this poem to me. I've never heard or seen it written anywhere else. He passed away two years ago and I had it read at his funeral but with his own altered last line: ''And quiet sleep and sweet dreams when my last trip is over''
    My father left the sea but, the sea would not leave my father.


  • October 8
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    poem

    From guest margaret and aimee (contact)
    a love this poem as it paints such a lovely picture in my eye. this a lovely poem that i would keep as a treasure all my life until i die.


  • September 30
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    Going Back to the Sea Again

    From guest Margaret Mason (contact)
    I live on the desert in southern Arizona but was raised near the sea in New Jersey. Every once in a while I have to go to San Diego and go back to the sea. All of the time that I am there this poem runs through my head. Last month the Str of India which is usually on display was being taken a short distance to be refurbished. What a thrill to see it even though the sails were not up.


  • September 19
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    Memories from School Days

    From guest Wayne Nelson (contact)
    My Literature teacher Ms Rushing a beautiful middle aged lady and a true Southern Belle loved poetry and had the class memorize the poem when I was in high school in Samson Alabama during the 1950's. I was a country boy and the words painted beautiful pictures. I have since traveled over much of the world as a soldier and the words of this beautiful poem have traveled with me. Ms Rushing is still with us and she is still beautiful she is 105 years young. Still a true Southern Belle.


  • September 14
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    Inspiring!

    From guest Michael O'Byrne (contact)
    I love this poem for the spirit it evokes. It conjures up images in the mind and appeals to the very core of one's being. Brilliant!


  • September 1
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    Memories

    From guest Roelie Louw (contact)
    This is the only poem I remember from my school days at Overberg High in the town of Caledon near Cape Town RSA during the early sixties. It has stayed in my mind ever since and I often recite it. It is a most beautiful description of passion for the sea.


  • August 28
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    "Sea V Seas"

    From guest Michael Gaines. (contact)
    I had to learn this poem at "St James Junior School" in Tunbridge Wells, I was about eight years old, 1951, we were taught the "Sea" version, I can`t remember the book but the first two lines have been engraved on my mind all of my life, It was good to find it on this site and read the the poem through again, I would not have remembered the rest of it, just the first two lines.


  • August 22
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    Grade 7 Teacher

    From guest Tom Hanrahan (contact)
    I was told to read this poem by Mrs. Fergusson my grade 7 teacher who truly instilled in me a love of learning. I think of her often and wonder if I would have obtained tow university degrees without her. This was one of her favourite poems.


  • August 13
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    The tall ships visit to Belfast

    From guest Helen (contact)
    I learnt this brilliant poem by heart maybe 35 years ago for some exam probably - I love it but can only remember a line or two. We're richer for having poetry. Our theme at school is at the seaside and I'm putting up on display as much of this poem as I can get room for/have time to do. Mention of the tall ship makes it topical


  • July 22
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    High School memories

    From guest Dahlia DeSilva Petgrave (contact)
    Just this morning the verses of this poem popped into my head after learning them at Mannings School in Savanna-la-Mar Jamaica W.I. in 1968. I could not believe that I could recall the entire poem after such a long time. It was one of my favourites.


  • July 14
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    Remembering Ms. Hinds, 5th grade teacher

    From guest Marie (contact)
    Ms. Hinds was a widow who had a kindly but loud voice. She was the teacher kids thought of as strange and terrifying (her stature, discipline). This was her favorite poem which she would recite to us occasionally. Sooo many years later, I still hear her booming voice as I read this poem, which has become one of my favorites. It just goes to show the influence of a dedicated teacher.


  • June 28
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    The poem

    From guest Fran Kremlick (contact)
    This is a special poem to me, that has stayed in my heart for well over 50 years. Perhaps in another life this was where I was. Today 2009 It never ceases to thrill me and remind me of the joy of this planet.


  • June 16
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    Sea Fever

    From guest Margaret (contact)
    Rediscovered after 50 years of being introduced to this wonderful poem. Thank you. M


  • May 31
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    From guest Mary Tabb (contact)
    Thank you for publishing "Sea Fever" - I love that poem because I love the sea.


  • May 25
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    Rememberance of Richard Lawrence Bartholomew

    From guest G. Surya Kumar (contact)
    Richard Lawrence Bartholomew, our English teacher, introduced this poem to us in 1951 while I was studying in Modern School in New Delhi, India. He had immigrated to India from Burma, having walked (hiked) all the way from Rangoon to New Delhi. He told us it was to be sung in a sea-saw way - the way the waves caress the sea.

    • To Guest G Surya Kumar
      It is nice of you to remember your teacher.
      Mine was Mr J Waddington Feather, he introduced me to some fine poetry though I never appreciated it at the time.
      Having performed this poem nyself many times as a piece of pure recitation I believe it benefits from appropriate pauses giving bits of it the stacatto feel of broken waves.
      However if you do wish to sing it, the duo Liverpool Forebitter have produced a wonderful CD entitled Salt Water Ballads which is full of Masefields work sung to their own accompaniment which I strongly recommend.
      Jim


  • May 3
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    The long Trick is over

    From guest Elizabeth Bravo (contact)
    A very dear friend of our passed away last week and through the process of readying ourselves for the funeral, my husband was lead to this poem. He woke from a deep sleep and felt wide awake. He knew that he had an urge to Google Adventure Poems. He had never heard of adventure poems before, so that seemed odd to him. And although he was writing the eulogy for our friend, he didn't need a poem. So he wondered why was he looking for this poem. Our friends son in the mean time had been looking for a poem, the right poem. He searched and searched and when we called and told him of this find he knew it was perfect. It may not have been written about a journeys end to someones life, but our friend was giving us a message. Something that we will always remember. It is one of the most beautiful poems I have ever read.


  • April 26
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    The sea and the sky

    From guest Tom Barnes (contact)
    I was born near the sea and watched it and the sky from my hurricane hunter aircraft as we charted storms and developed our hurricane warning system. And I can't count the times 'I must go down to the seas again' has popped into my mind. The poem means a lot to me.


  • April 21
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    About the poem.

    From guest Ed. (contact)
    I have been to sea for many and many a year, 35 to be exact,and if you ever have a fling or a wild feeling for the sea...then this poem wraps it up. There is nothing like the calling of the sea...like a wanting to explore the caverns and south sea areas of the world....the beauty and romantic emotional depth of feelings that one receives is really not an experiment but the glorious feeling that you have been there, done that, and most of all.....loved every second that one feels.


  • April 17
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    From guest Patricia Anne Brown (contact)
    I remember this poem from when I was in the 7th grade. My teacher played it on a record; the man who recited it made it so intriguing. I am glad to have looked it up and read it once again. It has been a very long time since 1966..


  • April 15
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    Sea or seas?

    From guest Roger McKeon (contact)
    Since Jean is not the only one I know of who has raised the question of "I must go down to the sea(s)", the answer is "seas" not "sea", which can easily be checked on a scanned version of the original to be found here : http://www.archive.org/details/SaltWaterBallads Cheers, R. McK.


  • March 23
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    SEA FEVER

    From guest Merle Cunningham (contact)
    I Love this poem so much and I want to memorize it


  • February 16
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    Sea Fever

    From guest Dorothy L. Lochridge (contact)
    Thank you for making it so easy for me to find this poem!


  • January 21
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    John Masefields Cargoes

    From guest Bob Peareson (contact)
    Masefield is an absolute delight - I love all the poems - Can anyone help me ? In his poem Cargoes, the first word is Quinquireme - Can't find it anywhere - HELP PLEASE ...Bob Pearson

    (MOD It's a particular type of large row galley (ancient cargo ship; see Weipedia for more info)


  • October 9, 2008
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    Sea vs Seas

    From guest Jean (contact)
    I always thought it was 'I must go down to the sea again'. But a number of websites have 'I must go down to the seas again' which is correct?


    • rufina caraid Moderators member
      October 9, 2008
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      for guest Jean

      I do not have a book of Masefields to refer to so I have checked several reliable websites and the word 'seas' appears to be correct.

      If anyone is able to supply any corrections from their own printed copy then please contact one of the Oldpoetry team.
      Regards, Von ~Oldpoetry~


  • July 12, 2008
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    From guest Robert Lee (contact)
    The best-ever poem of the sea and the feel of it all. This one has stayed witrh me since first being introduced to it in high scholl in the 60s. Simple and eloquent, it puts you "there."

  • rufina caraid Moderators member
    December 29, 2007

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    I've enjoyed reading this poem many times before but due to the sad loss of a dear friend recently I'm back here as this was one of his favorite poems. He was 93 and was still able to recide so many classical poems line by line and this was one of them.
    Masefield rebells agsint the Victorian romantic adventures, while still able to focus on his love for the sea, a theme used in so many of his poems.
    For you Calder *heart*


  • September 13, 2007
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    Sea Fever

    From guest MJ Hyams (contact)
    This poem magically transitions me to "the lonely sea and sky". It was required reading in high school... back in the day, but somehow still captures my call to the sea.


  • August 4, 2007
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    Poem - I must go down to the sea

    From guest Kathleen Czewski (contact)
    Is this poem in the public domain? I would really like to get a poster or print with this poem. Is anyone selling this?


  • June 13, 2007
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    From guest pepps (contact)
    i had to memorize this wholeee poem in one night and i stayed um untill 2 in the morning...............blahhh :(((


  • May 16, 2007
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    must down/ must go down

    From guest icelandscg (contact)
    I've seen this line written two different ways: "I must down to the sea again" or "I must go down to the sea again" I have to say I prefer the former, and thought that was the way it was written.

  • Groggy
    August 16, 2006
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    Stirring stuff

    My overwhelming feeling whenever I read this poem is fantastic rhythm that just carries you through breathlessly to the end.

  • the blue butterfly
    May 9, 2006
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    great

    this is one of my favourite poems

  • ea Moderators member
    April 4, 2006
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    aha

    thanks for that, Charley Noble. Too bad the "reply" option seems not to work here. I'm glad I noticed your answer.


  • Charley Noble Moderators member
    April 3, 2006
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    Trick? No Typo!

    "Trick" is old sailor slang for doing some task for a period of time such as steering the ship or keeping a sharp look-out. A "long trick" might extend to the entire four-hour watch.

    Cheerily,
    Charley Noble

  • xtryingx
    March 30, 2006
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    I read this for the first time in my freshman english class in high school and mmediately loved it. It's a classic and has stuck in my mind ever since. I love:
    "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;"
    This is one of my favorite poems.

  • ea Moderators member
    March 30, 2006
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    trick?

    Is long "trick" right on this in the 12th line?

  • I-Like-Rhymes Moderators member
    March 30, 2006
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    I have always liked this poem since I first came across it almost half a century back. It still has the power to move me with its tight imagery and amazing rhythm. It is one of my favourites for reciting out loud.
    Jim S

  • Master Domtos rose
    March 23, 2006
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    This is my favourite poem, Australian poets notwithstanding. I studied this poem, too, in middle primary, and the verses have just stuck with me through all that time (there is only one other poem I can claim that of - Paterson's "The Man from Snowy River" ... how I ever managed to learn and retain all those verses is still beyond me - but I can recite them word perfectly to this day!).

  • Eusebius
    March 8, 2006
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    Ineffably Beautiful

    A real classic, it transends time and space.

  • Woodworm
    April 15, 2005
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    John Ireland did a stunning musical setting of this. It's a wonderful poem. Some poems you can dance, some you can smell, but this is both. Though I always thought 'may not be denied' was a bit of a lame rhyme.

  • AceofMoons
    April 5, 2004
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    I've never read any of Masefield's poems until now. I have to agree with you, it does have a little bit of a beat to it =). What I sort of understand from it, is escaping. Escaping society, going back to the calm oceans, beutiful dawns, getting rid of his worries. I guess thats why I like it so much, I can imagine me doing the same, or I should say I would love to be able to =).

  • rufina caraid Moderators member
    June 13, 2003
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    The first two lines of this are so popular - howeverI don't remember reading the whole poem before today. It tells me that if that all asked for is supplied then this man will be truly happy.
    Light and easy to read
    ~Von~

  • Ava Noire
    June 13, 2003
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    I read this poem ages ago -back in middle school. I had to read it and attempt to write my verison of it.

    This is always a treat to read, mainly for its upbeat lil tune.

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