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I must go 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.
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.
Explanation:
The speaker wishes to lead a wandering gypsy life where no one can disturb him. He expresses his feeling that he wants to be free like a seagull and whale. Seagulls spent their lives over the shores.
![seagulls.jpg](https://resources.cdn.yaclass.in/12705f4b-31fc-4bf7-9ad6-1164e4f0f0b7/seagullsw300jpgjpg.jpg)
Seagulls over the shores
Whales live closer to the surface of the sea and wander it throughout their own life.
![sailing-boat-4197995_1920.jpg](https://resources.cdn.yaclass.in/d387f36e-a539-40ee-b9a9-87a2baa5bf4a/sailingboat41979951920w300jpgjpg.jpg)
Whales over surface
"Wind's like a whetted knife". This line signifies the winds cooling sensation makes him feel that it is much powerful as a sharp-pointed knife. The poet compares the wind to a sharp knife.
![knife-1088529_1280.png](https://resources.cdn.yaclass.in/e3574926-38ad-4ccc-8bc3-d08b7f78b6de/knife10885291280w300pngpng.png)
Wind is compared to a sharp knife
The speaker wants to hear exaggerated stories from a fellow wanderer. He likes to take a good sleep and have a sweet dream at the end of his journey. He wants to be free from the busy world.
![man-2783746_1280.png](https://resources.cdn.yaclass.in/6a5ee0b2-b99a-4b14-bfdc-16a4cff16796/man27837461280w300pngpng.png)
The speaker likes to take a sound sleep
Meanings of the difficult words:
S.No | Words | Meanings |
1 | Vagrant | A person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place |
2 | Whetted | Sharpen the blade of a tool or weapon |
3 | Exaggerated | To make something seem larger, better than it really is |
4 | Rover | A person who spends their time wandering |
5 | Trick | A period of stay on the ship after the voyage |
6 | Yarn | A long or rambling story, especially one that is impossible |
Reference:
State Council of Educational Research and Training (2019). Term-1 English Standard-7. Sea Fever-John Masefield (pp. 93-96). Published by the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation.