I must go down to the seas again

[donradcliffe]

With apologies to John Masefield.

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a dry ship and a working autopilot to steer her by;
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a blue sparkle on the sea’s face, and a new 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 not too 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 costs plus few shekels from the absent owner,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trip’s over.

I'll be taking off in a week to return one of the Pacific Cup boats. My biggest challenge will be getting a covid free crew on the boat, but I will have to keep a weather eye on the tropical systems.

[Wotname]

Continuing the theme...

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
I left my shoes and socks there, I wonder if they are dry.

[CaptTom]

Years ago I started a parody of that poem. Here's what I have so far, never before published:

I must go down to the boat again, to the lonely chores and buy,
A pile of parts for which I'll need a card to charge them by
And the knees crack and the back strains and the raw knuckles shaking,
And an oily mist upon my face, and another boat part breaking.

I must go down to the boat again, For the bilge pump's running wild
Brought an urgent call from the dockmaster that may not be denied.
And all I ask is decent day without snow or spray flying,
And underway, not tied to the dock with broken boat parts, crying.

I must go down to the boat again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
From the top of the mast, to the lowest bilge where I lost my fishing knife;
And all I get is a merry laugh from a passing fellow owner,
Who's been there too and knows too well it'll soon all be over.

[I think that last line was about the short boating season here in Maine, not life in general. But I suppose it works either way.]

[paulajayne]

I must go down to the sea again,
to the lonely sea and the sky;
I left my shoes and socks there -
I wonder if they're dry?

Spike Milligan