Sea-Fever

A poem 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 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.
 
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.

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Sea Wave

1 / 15

What does the poet want after the 'long trick' is over?

2 / 15

What does the poet long for in the poem?

3 / 15

What is the central theme of the poem?

4 / 15

What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?

5 / 15

What literary device is used in 'the call of the running tide'?

6 / 15

What is 'blown spume' as mentioned in the poem?

7 / 15

What mood is created by the line 'And a grey mist on the sea's face'?

8 / 15

What does the poet ask for to steer the ship?

9 / 15

What is the 'call of the running tide'?

10 / 15

What does the poet mean by 'the wind's like a whetted knife'?

11 / 15

Why does the poet repeat the line 'I must go down to the seas again'?

12 / 15

What does 'the wheel's kick' refer to?

13 / 15

What is the tone of the poem?

14 / 15

What type of life does the poet describe as 'vagrant gypsy life'?

15 / 15

What is the poet's 'merry yarn' referring to?

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