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Masefield

John Masefield
1878-1967

 
"Roadways"

(1910)

 

One road leads to London,
      One road leads to Wales,
My road leads me seawards
      To the white dipping sails.

One road leads to the river,
      And it goes singing slow;
My road leads to shipping,
      Where the bronzed sailors go.

Leads me, lures me, calls me
      To salt green tossing sea;
A road without earth's road-dust
      Is the right road for me.

A wet road heaving, shining,
      And wild with seagulls' cries,
A mad salt sea-wind blowing
      The salt spray in my eyes.

My road calls me, lures me
      West, east, south, and north;
Most roads lead men homewards,
      My road leads me forth.

To add more miles to the tally
      Of grey miles left behind,
In quest of that one beauty
      God put me here to find.

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