2009.08.17
A poem for Paul
Ray Jamison of Roanoke passed along a message to me last week from Capt. Kirk McGeorge, a Cave Spring High School graduate who is currently sailing around the world with his family on their 49-foot sailboat. According to Jamison, he and McGeorge were buddies with the late Paul Corne of Capt'n Paul's Seafood fame while attending Cave Spring.
McGeorge sent along the following poem in memory of Corne and wanted us to publish it somehow. It's a beautiful poem. Enjoy.
"Sea-Fever," 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 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.
