Salt-Water Poems and Ballads (Masefield, 1916)/Trade Winds

by John Masefield

TRADE WINDS

In the harbour, in the island, in the Spanish Seas,Are the tiny white houses and the orange-trees,And day-long, night long, the cool and pleasant breezeOf the steady Trade Winds blowing.

There is the red wine, the nutty Spanish ale,The shuffle of the dancers, the old salt's tale,The squeaking fiddle, and the soughing in the sailOf the steady Trade Winds blowing.

And o' nights there's fire-flies and the yellow moon,And in the ghostly palm-trees the sleepy tuneOf the quiet voice calling me, the long low croonOf the steady Trade Winds blowing.