I must over the seas again, with the ocean's cry in my heart,
And a battered hat and a loyal crew and the gift of a day's head start;
And all I need is my black ship with her black sails shaking,
And a wild chase and a wild plan and freedom for the taking.
-
order_of_chaos (Sea-Fever, PotC version.)
And this is one of my favorite poems ever, especially when I'm in an Age of Sail mood:
Sea-Fever
I MUST 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.
- John Masefield