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 rough, sloping scarp,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind is strong and sharp;
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.
4
Why does the poet begin each stanza with "I must go down to the seas again"?
A.
to lessen the speaker's reluctance to visit the ocean
B.
to highlight how trapped the speaker feels
C.
to emphasize the speaker's strong desire to sail
D.
to suggest the speaker is waking from a dream
1 answer
C. to emphasize the speaker's strong desire to sail
The repetition of the phrase "I must go down to the seas again" underscores the speaker's deep yearning and determination to return to the sea, emphasizing their strong desire to sail and experience the maritime life.
