Blog Intermission no. 1 (entr’acte) - Sea Fever

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 grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

Newfoundland, Canada (picture taken in August 2008)

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.



The Flying Cloud, Montague Dawson, English 1895-1973

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;



Seagulls, Timothy Widener, American, contemporary

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.
–John Masefield, English, 1878-1967



Boats in a Fjord, Normann Adelsteen, Norwegian 1848-1918

I heard this sea shanty and did not quite get all the words, but I understood “Good-bye Fare ye well” and “ We’re homeward bound. “ So I thought it would be a fitting end to this post.





the 97th Regimental String Band singing the sea shanty “Good-bye Fare ye well”

Painting by Christian Johan Dahl, Norwegian, 1788-1857

Picture at the very top was taken in the port of Genoa, Italy, last November 2009


Note: Blogger Break - Post pre-programmed –