A Wet Sheet and a Flowing Sea-Allan Cunningham

A WET SHEET AND A FLOWING SEA

A wet Sheet and a flowing sea,

A wind that follows fast,

And fills the white and rustling sail,

And bends the gallant mast;

And bends the gallant mast, my boys,

While like the eagle free

Away the good ship flies, and leaves

Old England on the lee.

O for a soft and gentle wind!

I hear a fair one cry;

But give to me the snoring breeze

And white waves heaving high:

And white waves heaving high, my lads,

The good ship tight and free-

The world of waters is our home,

And merry men are we.

There's tempest in yon horned moon,

And lightning in yon cloud;

But hark the music, mariners!

The wind is piping loud;

The wind is piping loud, my boys,

The lightning flashes free-

While the hollow oak our palace is,

Our heritage the sea.


ALLAN CUNNINGHAM



Summary: 'A Wet Sheet and a Flowing Sea' by Allan Cunningham is a poem that celebrates the adventurous spirit and resilience of sailors as they navigate the open ocean. The poem vividly describes the elements and sensations of a sea voyage, emphasizing the exhilaration and freedom that comes with it.

The poem opens with a portrayal of a wet sheet and a flowing sea, where the wind is blowing briskly, filling the sails and bending the mast of the ship. The sailors aboard the ship are depicted as gallant and free, as they leave England behind, sailing away.

As the poem progresses, a contrasting desire for a soft and gentle wind is expressed, but the sailors prefer the snoring breeze and the excitement of white waves heaving high. They see the world of waters as their home, and they are merry and content with their maritime life.

The final stanzas acknowledge the presence of tempestuous weather, with a horned moon and lightning in the clouds. However, the mariners take joy in the music of the wind and the loud piping of the breeze. Despite the challenges, they find solace and fulfillment in their seafaring existence, with the hollow oak serving as their palace and the sea as their inheritance.

In essence, the poem exudes a sense of adventure, freedom, and a deep connection to the sea, emphasizing the resilience and camaraderie of the sailors as they navigate the unpredictable elements of the open ocean.

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