Sea-Fever

"Sea-Fever" is a poem by 20th century Earth poet John Masefield. The poem includes the line "all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by" which appeared on the dedication plaques of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A) and the USS Defiant (2370).

In 2268, James T. Kirk quoted from "Sea-Fever" to Leonard McCoy, identifying it only as a poem from 20th century Earth. 

In 2287, Kirk quoted from the poem while aboard a shuttlecraft approaching the Enterprise-A. McCoy misidentified the poem's provenance as Herman Melville, but was corrected by Spock. 

In 2372, Quark paraphrased the poem while aboard his ship Quark's Treasure, saying "all I ask is a tall ship...and a load of contraband to fill her with."