(no subject)

[athelind]

Sea Fever

I must 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 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.


John Masefield (1878)

Comments

[archteryx.livejournal.com]

Not quite as poetic, but if you want a beautiful (and unconventional) sea chanty, listen to Enya's "The Longships".

I've long wanted to do a pseudo-animated video to it showing the ancient worldwild 'teryx migrations. The endless wingbeats are a good stand-in to the endless rowing of the pelagic longships. :>

-- ArchTeryx