ul ocean swells. In addition to the meter suggesting the repeated slap of the waves, "the wheel's kick" is a reference to the ship's steering wheel spinning out of control. To further support the theory of the waves slapping against the bow, "The wheels kick" suggests that the tall ship is traversing very storm seas. Through the combining of iambic and spondaic meter, "Sea Fever" not only gains a magnificent rhythm, but gives clues into the location and movement of the tall ship.Perhaps, the most striking characteristic of "Sea Fever" is the remarkable imagery seen on each line throughout the poem. Images of a "gray mist" and a "gray dawn breaking" bring the poem to life by appealing to the senses. The powerful images bring the reader to the ocean and help the reader understand the strong longing the speaker has for the sea. Through the use of descriptive adjectives, the effectiveness of Masefield's imagery is increased. Specifically, words such as "whetted" and "flung" help create a realistic picture of the sea. Images of a "wild call" and a "clear call that may not be denied" describe a longing that is shared between the speaker and the ocean. Finally, images of a "lonely sea" and a "vagrant gypsy life" bring a mood of freedom and independence to the poem. Through the use of vivid descriptions and strong images of the sea, Masefield helps the reader to understand why the speaker must return to the sea. Through the use of complex figures of speech, "Sea Fever" is transformed from an ordinary poem to a masterpiece. Masefield adds figures of speech such as, personification, to bring detailed descriptions of the ship and sea to the reader. In line four, the sea is personified when the water's surface is referred to as the "sea's face". In addition to personification, Masefield uses several similes and metaphors that increase the effectiveness of the already strong imagery. The simile "the winds like a whetted knife", appeals to the senses...
