The other night, I watched a Star Trek TOS episode called “The Ultimate Computer.” In the episode, James T. Kirk quotes a poem to Dr. McCoy, identifying it only as “a poem from 20th century Earth.” He uses it to illustrate the yearning for exploration and discovery that mark us as human.

I found it unexpectedly beautiful, and I figured we could all use a little random beauty this week. So here it is. Enjoy.

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.
………………………..
(If you like this, you can find a lot more random beauty at the Poetry Foundation website.)
This post was written by Samantha Enslen, owner of Dragonfly Editorial.