My Sunday photo – I must go down to the sea again

My Mum used to say “I must go down to the sea again, the lonely sea in the sky. I’ve left my knickers and socks there, and I wonder if they’re dry”.

This used to make us laugh as children, and now I say this to my kids.

The real poem is this and is written 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 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 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.

Beautiful words. Just like the sea.

Photo was taken at West Wittering beach. It was cloudy and overcast and the sea was cold. I used my iPhone because although I took my camera with me I forgot to charge the battery. Oops.