Joy of Being Alive

The tiny gull

With feathers white

And a black heart shaped spot

On its back

Hopped and pranced

On the rooftop.

Its small yellow beak

Was turned up to the sky

While it performed its carefree dance.

Its song made the air gay

And sent out echoes of freedom

The leaves of the surrounding trees

Rustled in encore.

Then it flew away

To spread its joy elsewhere

But left a message for you and me -

Dance tonight, it chirped

For, tomorrow we might not see

But today is enough for thee

To be fully alive,

To feel the throb of beauty

And reciprocate with a beating heart

 

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 gray 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 which may not be denied.
And all I ask is a windy day with white clouds flying,
And flung spray and blown spume, and the seagulls 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 a quite sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.

- John Masefield

Sea Fever