Analysis of the poem “Sea Fever” by John Masefield
Analysis of the poem “Sea Fever” by John Masefield
The poem is about a person whose intense desire is to return to the sea. The person or the speaker has been to the sea before and the repetition of the line “I must go down to the seas again” in every stanza, brings out the speaker’s longing to experience sea life again. The speaker wants only a star to guide his tall ship, with the sails moving to the wind thereby wishing for a solitary life, with only nature taking control in directing him.
“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,”
He is drawn by the call of the tide, which is a natural force that cannot be ignored maybe similar to the tides being affected by the gravitational pull of the moon. He wants a windy day, to feel the cool breeze, sprays of foamed sea water, under a sky of floating white clouds.
“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,”
The speaker wants to be carefree like a gypsy, follow the way of life of the gulls and whales at sea. He wants to be free from any bond or attachments but would enjoy the company of a person who shares his dream or similar in thoughts. The speaker is wishing for a peaceful death and afterlife once his duties and dreams are fulfilled.
“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.”
The poem is subjective as the feelings of the speaker are very clear. The speaker is wishing to be a part of the nature away from his current position in life. The phrases “to the lonely sea and the sky”, “wind 's song”, “running tide” and “vagrant gypsy life” show that the speaker is missing the sea and fancies it solitary lifestyle. He wants to feel free like the sea, because in nature, the sea takes control of its destiny and nothing can harness it. He feels dissatisfied with the
The poem is about a person whose intense desire is to return to the sea. The person or the speaker has been to the sea before and the repetition of the line “I must go down to the seas again” in every stanza, brings out the speaker’s longing to experience sea life again. The speaker wants only a star to guide his tall ship, with the sails moving to the wind thereby wishing for a solitary life, with only nature taking control in directing him.
“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,”
He is drawn by the call of the tide, which is a natural force that cannot be ignored maybe similar to the tides being affected by the gravitational pull of the moon. He wants a windy day, to feel the cool breeze, sprays of foamed sea water, under a sky of floating white clouds.
“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,”
The speaker wants to be carefree like a gypsy, follow the way of life of the gulls and whales at sea. He wants to be free from any bond or attachments but would enjoy the company of a person who shares his dream or similar in thoughts. The speaker is wishing for a peaceful death and afterlife once his duties and dreams are fulfilled.
“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.”
The poem is subjective as the feelings of the speaker are very clear. The speaker is wishing to be a part of the nature away from his current position in life. The phrases “to the lonely sea and the sky”, “wind 's song”, “running tide” and “vagrant gypsy life” show that the speaker is missing the sea and fancies it solitary lifestyle. He wants to feel free like the sea, because in nature, the sea takes control of its destiny and nothing can harness it. He feels dissatisfied with the