Sea Fever is a poem written by the Irish poet John Masefield in 1902. The poem is a tribute to the sea and its powerful and enduring presence in the human experience.
The poem begins with the speaker declaring their love for the sea, saying "I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky." The speaker is drawn to the sea's "cleanness," "salt," and "sound of waves." They describe the sea as a place of great beauty, with its "white sides" and "splashing waves," but also a place of danger, with its "terrible storms" and "great whales."
Despite the dangers of the sea, the speaker is drawn to it again and again, feeling a "hunger" and a "longing" to return to its embrace. They describe the sea as a "deep and true friend," one that is always there, no matter how far they may wander from it. The sea represents a sense of adventure and freedom, and the speaker is never happier than when they are sailing upon its waves.
The final stanza of the poem sees the speaker returning to the sea, ready to embrace its "wildness" and "darkness." They are eager to explore its depths, and to discover all the mysteries it holds. The sea, for the speaker, is a place of endless possibility and wonder.
In summary, Sea Fever is a tribute to the sea and its enduring presence in the human experience. It is a celebration of the sea's beauty and power, as well as its danger and mystery. It is a testament to the enduring love and fascination that people have always had with the sea, and the sense of adventure and freedom it represents.
