Roadways

by John Masefield

One road leads to London
One road leads to Wales.
My road takes me seaward
To the white dripping sails.

One road leads to the river
As 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, sighing
And wild with seagull's 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 search of that great beauty
God put me here to find.