Going Down?

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 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.


Editor 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.

[Ann H. LeFevre]

Lovely shot and such a perfect poem for it!! I love how blue the Pacific looks compared to the steely gray of the Atlantic on this side of the country.

[Rashella]

Loved reading this poem aloud, thanks for sharing and interesting capture to be sure. Stairs on either side leave much to the imagination.

[karenann]

If there's a "mist," I'm going down to the sea. Oh yeah .. that's my kind of place then. Beautiful pov and composition, Dixie. Lovely greens and blues!

[Mrs. Smith]

Beautiful...the words and the picture!

[Vanilla Spice]

What a beautiful place to explore and relax!

[Terry]

what a cool inviting shot.

[Joyce Wells]

Ah! John Masefield - how I love that poem - what a wonderful shot, Dixie - so beautiful!

[Anne ❀]

what a pretty view, i like the comp and colours. the rocks are imposing and you've captured them very well.

[Carole Imes]

Love the poem and so appropriate for the photo. Great composition.

[summerfield]

this shot, dixie, is a metaphor for life. we're given a path and at the end it breaks into two, which path to take to get to that final destination, the rough rocks and the green grass representing hardship and happiness that we can achieve whichever path we take? wonderful composition.