It's Different Out There

Happy Leap Day! ~ Do something different!
Photo by Gerry McCartney

"I account it high time
to get to sea as soon as I can. . . . "
~ Herman Melville ~

" . . . for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die."
~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson ~

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.

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.

John Masefield (1878 - 1967)
British Poet Laureate from 1930 - 1967