SEA FEVER

SEA FEVER ( 1916) by John Masefield ( 1878-1967)

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.....

 Photographs 2025 Campbell River, B.C. 

                     ("Sea fever" is in the public domain)

IN THIS GARDEN...

from "THE SECRET GARDEN (1911)"  -Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924)

"Sometimes since I've been in the garden

I've looked up through the trees at the sky.

I've had a strange feeling of being happy,

as if something was pushing and drawing in my chest...

making me breathe fast.

Magic is always pushing and drawing and making things out of nothing.

Everything is made out of magic,

leaves and trees,

flower and birds,

badgers and foxes....

and squirrels......

and people.

So, it must be........

.......... all around us.

In this garden...

In all the places..."

Photographs 2025

 

FROM ABOVE....

CLEAR EVENING 

   by Sara Teasdale (1884-1933) from the collection " Dark Side of the Moon" ( 1926)

The Crescent moon is large enough to linger

A little while after the twilight goes

This night the garden perfumes are earth and apple

dewy pine and rose....

Over my head four new-cut stars are glinting

And the inevitable night draws on;

Evenings on evenings

Years on years forever

Be taut, my spirit, close upon and keep

The scent.....

the brooding chill

the gilding fire-fly

A poem I learned before I fall asleep....

                                                                                            EACH EVENING.......

"We are all naturally seekers of wonders. We travel far to see the majesty of old ruins, the venerable forms of the hoary mountains, great waterfalls, and galleries of art. And yet the world's wonder is all around us; the wonder of setting suns, and evening stars, of the magic spring-time..." -Albert Pike

            "Every evening brings us closer to God..." -Martin Luther

"So let us welcome peaceful evening in.." -William Cowper

 photographs 2025