Sailing

[John Gill]

Browsing through a book on Maritime Poetry(Coastal Waters),which was an unread Christmas gift from way back when I came across a poem by John Masefield. I think most of us aboard here are familiar with the opening lines of this famous work, however I wonder how many of us have read the entire poem- I certainly hadn't, so I thought it worth posting it on here. The poem's title is 'Sea Fever'.

I must go down to the sea 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 sea 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 flume, 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.

[Doc Vernon]

A good one there and brings to mind the Song and Video by Rod Stewart called "Sailing" have always loved that one!
Cheers

Rod Stewart - I am Sailing w/ lyrics - YouTube

[happy daze john in oz]

The modern version is a bit different

I must go down to the sea agin, to the lonely sea and the sky,
and all i ask is a tall ship and a GPS to guide her by.

[E.Martin]

I was taught that at school in the early fifties.
Another one goes like this.

O for a gentle breeze,I heard a fair one cry
but give to me a snorting breeze with white waves heaving high.
With white waves heaving high my boys while like the eagle free
Away the good ship flies and leave Old England on the lee.

[E.Martin]

Just Googled the bit I knew,this is what came up

A Wet Sheet and A Flowing Sea.
Lesley Nelson-Burns

A wet sheet and a flowing sea,
A wind that follows fast,
And fills the white and rustling sail,
And bends the gallant mast,
And bends the gallant mast my boys,
While like a eagle free,
Away the good ship flies,
And leaves Columbia on our lee.
Oh give me a wet sheet,
And a flowing sea,
And a wind that follows fast,
And fills the white and rustling sail,
And bends the gallant mast.

O for a soft and gentle wind
I heard a fair one cry,
But give to me the roaring breeze,
And white waves heaving high,
And white waves heaving high my boys,
The good ship tight and free
The world of water is our home
And merry men are we.
Oh Give me a wet sheet
A flowing sea
And a wind that follows fast
And fills the white and rustling sail
And bends the gallant mast.

There's a tempest in your horned moon
And lightning in your cloud,
And hard the music mariners,
The wind is piping loud
The wind is piping loud ,my boys
The lightning flashes free
While the hollow oak our palace is,
Our heritage the sea
Oh Give me a wet sheet
A flowing sea
And a wind that follows fast
And fills the white and rustling sail
And bends the gallant mast.