Poem 'Sea Fever'

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 grey mist on the sea’s face, and

a grey dawn breaking,

I must 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 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.

This poem is written by a sailor who is on the land now. He wants to go back to the sea where he likes to live.
I think he is a pirate.

My favorite three lines

I must go down to the seas again,

to the lonely sea and the sky,

I think he likes to be alone. He likes to look at the sea and sky. They are so grand and strong. The sea just stay there all the time. And it changes its shape depends on the whether. The sea is captive, but free. The sky is just so beautiful and helpful. The color changes, and at night, the stars are shining. It also helps sailors to see the way. 

To the gull’s way and the whale’s way

where the wind’s like a whetted knife;

He likes the nature and dangerousness of the sea. That makes him feel free and burn. The gull that stays in the sky, that is a place that we cannot stay. And the whale that stays in the water, that is also the place we cannot stay. But he is using the way of explaining that normal usually people cannot go, like middle of the sea. Also, "the wind's like a whetted knife" is saying that the wind is fast and strong. 

And all I ask is a merry yarn

from a laughing fellow-rover,

And he wants a  merry life. He just want to enjoy his easy, but burning life.