The Poem “Sea Fever” is a treasured poem from John Masefield, a former sailor, about his time out at sea. John Masefield was an English seaman, writer and Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1930 to 1967.
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 gray mist on the sea’s face, and a gray 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.
Video: Sea Fever – John Masefield
Printable
Click on the links below to download the poem and worksheet.
Activity
Visualization exercise for children: Read the poem carefully and draw what you see.