The Story of a Round-House, and Other Poems

"The Story of a Round-House, and Other Poems" by John Masefield is a book of poetry from the early 1900s. The first major poem, called "Dauber," tells about a young, aspiring painter who's a crew member on a ship. He dreams of turning his visions of the ocean and the ships into art. It explores ideas about chasing your dreams, battling tough times, and the brutal reality of working on the sea. Dauber, the main character, starts as a sensitive and hopeful artist who feels like an outsider. He sees the ocean in a unique way and wants to create art from it, but the other sailors make fun of him. He struggles with wanting to be liked and staying true to his art. This beginning part of the poem shows how hard his journey will be as he tries to find his place as both an artist and a sailor.