Sea Fever is a poem written by the British poet John Masefield and was first published in 1902. It is a poem about longing and the endless appeal of the sea. It touches on themes of wanderlust, freedom, and the fascination the poet has with the restless nature of the sea.
The poem begins with the narrator declaring their love of the sea, drawn to it and its spirit of adventure. The poem paints a vivid picture of the call of the sea and its power to stir emotion and imagination. The narrator speaks of developing a romantic love affair with the sea, of feeling a magnetic pull that compels them to not only admire it, but also to desire to experience it for themselves.
The activity of sea travel is then described in vivid detail, with the narrator likening it to a dance between the waves and the sailors on the ship, a joyous and thrilling journey of excitement and exploration. The power of the sea is presented as an element of danger but also a source of awe and beauty. In the end, the narrator pledges their love to the sea and expresses a deep longing to be on its rolling waves.
Overall, Sea Fever by John Masefield is a romantic and beautiful ode to the sea and to the spirit of adventure. It captures the enthralling beauty of the ocean and the captivating power it can have over us, and speaks to the eternal allure that it holds.
