The sea, the sea, the sea

 

The sea, the sea, the sea

 

 

 

The wind               The sea

 

0                                                                                            Like a mirror

1                                                                                            Scaly ripples with no foam

2                                                                                            Small wavelets

3                                                                                            Large wavelets.  Crests begin to break about. Scattered white horses

4                                                                                            Small waves. Many white horses

5                                                                                            Moderate waves. Many more white horses. Some spray

6                                                                                            Larger waves begin to form white foam crests with more spray

7                                                                                            Sea heaps up. White foam streaks off breakers

8                                                                                            Moderate high waves of greater length. Crests break

into frothy spindrift. Foam blown in streaks 

9                                                                                            High waves. Crests begin to topple and roll over. Dense streaks of foam. Much spray

10                                                                                       Very high waves. Long overhanging crests. Tumbling of sea becomes heavy and shocking. Heavy rolling

11                                                                                       Exceptionally high waves. Sea covered with long patches of foam

12                                                                                       Air filled with foam. Tremendous waves. Driving spray. Sea completely white

 

 

 

Adapted from the Beaufort Wind Scale written in 1805, the year of Trafalgar, by Sir Francis Beaufort, Royal Navy. The figures represent the wind force. The choice of words, especially when read aloud in the gruff voice of an old seaman, creates a poem by itself.