‘Sea Fear’

Charles Souter

I can’t go down to the sea again

For I am old and ailing;

My ears are deaf to the mermaid’s call,

And my stiff limbs are failing.

The white sails and the tall masts

Are no longer to be seen

On the dainty clipper ships that sailed

For Hull, and Aberdeen!

I can’t go down to the sea again:

My eyes are weak and bleared,

And they search again for the gallant poop

Where once I stood and steered.

There’s nought but wire and boiler-plate

To meet my wand’ring gaze.

Never a sign of the graceful spars

Of the good old sailing days!

So I will sit in the little room

That all old sailors know,

And smoke, and sing, and yarn about

The ships of long ago,

‘The Flying Cloud’, ‘The Cutty Sark’,

‘The Hotspur’ and ‘The Dart’ . . .

But I won’t go down to the sea again,

For fear it breaks my heart!