MY SECOND GRADERS MEMORIZED THIS POEM EVERY YEAR--"SEA FEVER"



"Sea Fever" by John Masefield

"Sea-Fever"

I must 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 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 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.



By John Masefield (1878-1967).


(English Poet Laureate, 1930-1967.)



A Bluepete Poetry Pick [Attribution]

Every single year I would start out with one short poem for my second grade students to memorize and by the end of the year, every one of them knew this poem by heart.
Memorization is a skill that is sometimes overlooked and yet it is one that not only adds to "brain power" but is something that when used, stays with a person forever.
I can only hope that teachers have their students memorize poetry.

Every time I was at the beach, this poem would come to me. I could feel John Masefield's words in his truest sense and yes, "Sea Fever" is still one of my most favorite poems ever.

Sherry Hill