Sailing has long been a powerful metaphor for life itself. The vast expanse of the ocean, the unpredictability of the weather, the steady rhythm of the waves—these elements echo the journey we all face through life, full of challenges, triumphs, and moments of introspection. Poetry, in its ability to distill complex emotions and experiences into few words, captures these themes beautifully. In this article, we will explore 12 poems about sailing and life, examining how poets have drawn connections between the act of sailing and the journey of existence.
1. “Sea Fever” 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.
John Masefield‘s iconic poem “Sea Fever” is perhaps the most celebrated sailing poem in the English language. The speaker is drawn to the sea, not just for the adventure it offers, but for the deep sense of solitude and connection to nature it provides. This yearning for freedom, simplicity, and a life without the distractions of land is a central theme in many works that use sailing as a metaphor for life. Masefield expresses a longing for a “star to steer her by,” symbolizing guidance through life’s uncertainties. The poem’s repeated refrain echoes the constant pull the sea has on the human spirit—just as life’s challenges and unknowns continuously drive us forward.
2. “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
“Water, water, everywhere,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, everywhere,
Nor any drop to drink.”
Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is a haunting narrative of a sailor’s ordeal at sea, and it offers profound insight into themes of isolation, guilt, and redemption. The paradox of being surrounded by water but unable to drink symbolizes the human condition of being surrounded by abundance yet unable to find fulfillment. The mariner’s tale reflects the unpredictability of life’s journey—how choices, even those made in ignorance, can lead to unforeseen consequences. The poem warns of the perils of reckless action and the importance of respecting the natural world. As the mariner seeks redemption, the poem evokes the broader theme of the journey toward personal understanding and reconciliation.
3. “The Voyage” by James Dickey
The sea is a cruel mistress,
but she is a mistress all the same,
no longer young, no longer beautiful,
she comes in waves,
in undulations of memory and experience,
in waves that remind you of who you are.
In this poem, James Dickey reflects on the duality of the sea as both a dangerous force and an irresistible attraction. The sea’s cruelty represents the harsh realities of life—suffering, loss, and hardship—while its constant presence symbolizes the ongoing journey of personal growth. Dickey’s portrayal of the sea as both a lover and a foe mirrors life’s own dichotomies—joy and sorrow, success and failure, love and loss. The “waves of memory and experience” are metaphors for how our past shapes our future, as each experience (like each wave) leaves its imprint on our lives.
4. “The Ballad of the Tempest” by James T. Fields
The waves were white, the night was black,
The storm was on the sea,
When a single bark, with a single heart,
Went down to the deep and free.
“The Ballad of the Tempest” tells the story of a ship caught in a violent storm, yet it also represents the broader struggles of life. The ship, which sails into the tempest without hesitation, is symbolic of the human spirit facing adversity head-on. The storm, a natural force beyond the ship’s control, mirrors the challenges we face in life that seem insurmountable. Yet, there is an implicit resilience in the way the ship meets the storm. The poem encourages readers to embrace life’s struggles with bravery, knowing that even in the harshest storms, there can be beauty and meaning to be found.
5. “Sailing to Byzantium” by W.B. Yeats
That is no country for old men. The young
In one another’s arms, birds in the trees
—Those dying generations—at their song,
The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas,
Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long
Whatever is begotten, born, and dies.
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
Monuments of unageing intellect.
Yeats’ “Sailing to Byzantium” is not a literal poem about sailing, but it uses the image of a journey to explore deeper philosophical concerns. The speaker, growing older, seeks to escape the decaying world around him and sail to Byzantium, a metaphorical city of eternal life and intellectual vitality. The poem uses the sea and the voyage as symbols of a search for transcendence and the desire for permanence in a world of impermanence. Just as sailors set sail to reach a distant shore, Yeats’ speaker embarks on a spiritual journey in search of meaning beyond the physical world.
6. “The Ship of Life” by Ella Wheeler
We are the ship, and the sea is life,
The waves, the tempests, the stormy strife,
We sail, we struggle, through all the night,
Until we come to the distant light.
Ella Wheeler’s poem “The Ship of Life” is an allegorical piece that compares life to a ship’s voyage. The ship represents the individual, navigating through life’s tumultuous seas—each wave and tempest symbolizing the trials and tribulations we face. The light at the end of the journey symbolizes the peace and clarity we hope to achieve as we move through life’s challenges. This poem offers a hopeful message: no matter how rough the journey, there is always a destination, and it is the perseverance through adversity that gives life its meaning.
7. “The Sea of Life” by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Oh, the sea of life is a broad, broad sea,
And the waves are tossing high,
But we shall not sink, though the winds may blow,
For we are the ones who try.
Dunbar’s poem captures the resilience of the human spirit as it navigates the tumultuous waters of life. The sea is a symbol of life’s uncertainties and challenges, yet the speaker is determined not to sink. The repeated line, “For we are the ones who try,” underscores the importance of effort, perseverance, and hope in overcoming obstacles. Dunbar encourages us to keep afloat despite the difficulties, reminding us that strength lies in the willingness to continue moving forward.
8. “A Boat Beneath a Sunny Sky” by Emily Dickinson
A boat beneath a sunny sky
Lingering onward dreamily,
In an evening of the summer’s day,
A boat beneath a sunny sky.
Emily Dickinson’s “A Boat Beneath a Sunny Sky” is more of a playful meditation on the metaphorical idea of sailing as an expression of life’s journey. The boat moves forward “dreamily,” a metaphor for life’s passage, which, at times, feels slow and serene, with little direction or purpose. However, Dickinson’s choice to use a sunny sky invokes feelings of hope and warmth, suggesting that, in life, even in moments of uncertainty or stagnation, there is beauty and serenity to be found.
9. “The Sailor” by John Masefield
The sailor on the sea,
Is born to sail away;
But he will come back in time,
At the end of his day.
In “The Sailor,” Masefield presents the image of the sailor as a traveler constantly on the move, embodying the restless spirit that characterizes much of human nature. The poem speaks to the idea of cyclical journeys, where the sailor returns home after each voyage, just as people often return to their roots after periods of exploration or growth. The sailor’s life is not one of permanence, but of constant movement, symbolizing how life itself is a series of departures and returns.
10. “To the Sea” by Robert Louis Stevenson
You are old, Father William,
The young man said,
And your hair has become very white;
And yet you incessantly stand on your head—
Do you think, at your age, it is right?
Robert Louis Stevenson’s “To the Sea” depicts the ocean as a timeless and constant force, just as age is a constant companion to human life. Through the sea’s perpetual motion, the poem reflects on the passage of time and the wisdom that comes with it. Though the sea may appear unchanging on the surface, it is teeming with hidden depths—just as our experiences accumulate beneath the surface of our lives.
11. “The Sea and the Skylark” by Gerard Manley Hopkins
O, when the Sea, the Sea, it swells and makes a motion,
That is the voice of the Skylark, for the water is like a bird.
Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poem “The Sea and the Skylark” uses the imagery of the sea and the bird to highlight themes of freedom and the eternal cycle of life. The sea is both a literal and metaphorical force, a natural entity that continuously flows, just as time does. The skylark, often a symbol of joy and transcendence, embodies the hope and freedom that people strive for in life. The connection between these elements underscores the unity of the natural world and the human soul’s yearning for liberation.
12. “A Sailor’s Life” by Thomas Hardy
I’ve known a sailor’s life,
And gone where the ship must go;
I’ve watched the oceans wide,
And the storm and the sun on the bow.
Hardy’s poem about the sailor’s life evokes both the hardships and the rewards of navigating the sea. The sailor’s experience represents the broader human condition of facing life’s unpredictability with resilience. Through the metaphor of sailing, Hardy explores themes of personal journey and the acceptance of fate. The storm symbolizes life’s difficulties, while the sun on the bow offers hope, indicating that, no matter how difficult the path, there is always a possibility for renewal and growth.
Conclusion
Sailing, as depicted in poetry, is a rich metaphor for life’s journey. These 12 poems offer diverse perspectives on the act of sailing, reflecting on freedom, challenge, growth, and the quest for meaning. From Masefield’s longing for the sea to Hardy’s meditation on the sailor’s life, each poet uses the imagery of the ocean and sailing to explore profound aspects of human existence. In the end, the sea is a symbol not only of the world we navigate but of the inner journey we each embark upon, a voyage filled with both tempest and tranquility.
