In case any of you were wondering what my weird fascination with this Masefield character is, I can tell you: it’s Star Trek!

Masefield is one of the only poets mentioned by name in the Star Trek universe, specifically in the much-maligned Star Trek V when Kirk quotes from a line of the poem herein posted. Kirk quotes the line, McCoy misidentifies it as Melville, and Spock corrects him with Masefield.

Now be on your guard, fellow Trek-geeks! Tell me this:

1. Star Trek V is the first time Masefield is named in Star Trek, but it’s not the first time Kirk REFERENCES the poet – who can tell me the other time?
2. Who can tell me three other poets mentioned by name in Star Trek? Excluding Shakespeare, of course, and also excluding non-human poets, ya frickin nerds. . .

You can draw from the movies or any of the series, and the first person to get 1 and 2 gets a free book!

(and also, for those of you who seem intent on emailing me privately about every post: feel free to actually post a comment for all to see! Much as I like all the new friends I’m making, this IS supposed to be a place where I talk and you all talk too, right? So don’t be bashful …)

Originally published at Stevereads, August 2006