Poetry Sunday

Who couldn't love this:
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 gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray 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.

That poem just makes me think of Pismo Beach and the smell of the ocean. It's my all time favorite poem.

Anything by Edgar Allen Poe is fabulous. He is the master of suspense of all time. His poetry grabs you at the first line. Who can't help but love The Raven and of course, Annabel Lee? Just reading the words on paper your mind can't help but picture poor Annabel in her horrible sepulcher by the sea.

When I was a little girl I had a book called "A Child's Garden of Verse" by Robert Louis Stevenson. It included so many wonderful poems and there is a version now that has illustrations by Tasha Tudor. It doesn't get much better than that. Her illustrations are the best ever. Can you ever look at the moon the same again after reading this....

The moon has a face like the clock in the hall;
She shines on thieves on the garden wall,
On streets and fields and harbour quays,
And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees.

The squalling cat and the squeaking mouse,
The howling dog by the door of the house,
The bat that lies in bed at noon,
All love to be out by the light of the moon.

But all of the things that belong to the day
Cuddle to sleep to be out of her way;
And flowers and children close their eyes
Till up in the morning the sun shall arise.