John Masefield John Masefield (1878-1967) was one of the most prolific poets of the twentieth century. He is best known for his narrative poem "The Everlasting Mercy," which described the spiritual enlightenment of a drunken poacher. Over the span of his liftime, he was appointed Poet Laureate and amassed a large number of admirers, which included John Betjeman, Robert Graves, and W. B. Yeats. Read More Read Less