To Sea!

Thomas Lovell Beddoes (1803–1849)

TO sea! to sea! the calm is o’er,

The wanton water leaps in sport,

And rattles down the pebbly shore,

The dolphin wheels, the sea-cows snort,

And unseen mermaid’s pearly song

Comes bubbling up, the weeds among.

Fling broad the sail, dip deep the oar:

To sea! to sea! the calm is o’er.

To sea! to sea! our white-winged bark

Shall billowing cleave its watery way,

And with its shadow, fleet and dark,

Break the caved Triton’s azure day,

Like mountain eagle soaring light

O’er antelopes on Alpine height.

The anchor heaves! The ship swings free!

Our sails swell full! To sea! to sea!