Sea Fever--from Maria's first book of poetry

Monday, October 27

I went over to see Maria Mangano's dad Joe today. He really loved me reading "October's Bright Blue Weather" by Helen Jackson so I thought I would bring a book of poetry along and see if he wanted me to read anything. I looked through Maria's poetry compilations and found "Magic Casements" a book of favorite poems published in 1937. I had it out on the counter and Maria saw it and asked "Where did you get that book?" I explained my purpose in pulling it out and she asked if I had looked on the inside cover."Why, no..." It turns out it was the very first book of her own that she had ever owned; her father Joe had bought it for her in Rutland VT in 1970. She had in her careful schoolgirl handwriting inscribed the book as shown in the photo. We had a good cry about that--I brought the book to Joe's house and I showed him the inscription. He got teary too...he instantly found "Sea Fever" by John Masefield and I read it aloud to him, he recited along with the parts he remembered. More tears about that...

Sea Fever
BY JOHN MASEFIELD

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.