One of my mother’s favorite poems was Sea Fever by John Masefield. John Masefield was an English poet and writer, He was Poet Laureate from 1930 until 1967.
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 gray 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.
5th Grade, Circa 1962 in South Florida
I grew up in South Florida and have lived in Florida most of my life. So being around the sea and spending time on the ocean has been a natural part of my life. Something I have enjoyed immensely. So much so that I planned on becoming a Marine Biologist. I got sidetracked in college a little and became an Ecologist instead. But much of my studies on how plants and animals interact with their environment involved marine life. However, there is so much more to the sea than just studying it. There is a lure that pulls you in, a call, to quote John Masefield.
A few days ago my wife and I had the opportunity to spend an evening on the sea on our very dear friend’s boat. There is something about the salt breeze and waves that soothe the soul. A connection that can not be denied. And in the morning I was fortunate enough to view the beautiful golden yellow sunrise.
“The Triumph of Life” by Percy B. Shelley
Swift as a spirit hastening to his task
Of glory & of good, the Sun sprang forth
Rejoicing in his splendor, & the mask
Of darkness fell from the awakened Earth.
So, what is this allure of the sea? Well for one thing the sea is usually blue or green or turquoise. All soothing colors. The blue color gives a sense of coolness and calms the mind. Research shows it is the world’s, (people in the world), favorite color. That’s interesting to me because so much of the world is covered in blue water. Green is restful to the eye and provides a sense of balance. A sense of peace. Turquoise, as you might expect, seems to follow along the lines of blue and green as far as the feelings people associate with it. It also may instill an increase in energy.
Is it any wonder then that the sea holds such a spell over us?