John Masefield was born on June 1st, 1878 in Hertfordshire, England. By the age of six he was an orphan and was cared for by an aunt who tried her best to discourage him from his addiction to reading! He left school and trained for a life at sea. The photo above shows HMS Conway which was a merchant navy training ship on which Masefield at the age of 13 would spend his first two years at sea. He spent most of his money buying books and most of his time reading and developed a great love for writing, story telling, and poetry. Sea-Fever which many of us first encountered at school, speaks of his great love of adventure and love of the sea. Please do read it aloud and you will hear it become music as you recite the lines. The following link should take you to Masefield reading his poem. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLXNyhG4CGk His great love for the sea is beautifully set to words and the sea itself takes on human proportion – the sea’s face. His longing to return to the sea is underscored by the poem’s theme of wanderlust. In the last line of the poem he writes “when the long trick’s over” in sailing terms the word “trick” refers to the four hours watching and eight hours rest. This could also be a metaphor for life and how we live it, in harmony with nature and in harmony with the sea. Everything here is open for interpretation. Enjoy these lines and ponder where and when you might have first encountered them. Enjoy.

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 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. John Masefield

Prayer:
Lord God,
creator of land and sea, hear our
prayers this day for those who seek,
by sea, to reach a new world of hope and peace.
Loving God, almost daily we learn of the tragedies
of families who resort to smugglers to help them
reach lands where life can begin again.
Journeys which cost them everything, and sadly
all too often
the cost is life itself.
Forgive us for our apathy to such plight . For the many countries
and governments seemingly unable to offer safe
passage and humanitarian aid give wisdom and courage
to do the right thing.
Bless those who try to offer hospitality and bless those
who make it their mission to advocate for the safety and well
being of those whose life is harrowing and horrifying when
compared to the luxuries we take for granted.
Bless all who go down to the seas again seeking
a tall and trusty ship and a star of hope to guide them.
Amen.