My poem In the Dark and Dreadful Night was written in response to Sadje’s #Whatdoyousee #295 prompt, inspired by the photo by Philipp Deus @ Unsplash of a large ship docked by a small lighthouse.
I hope you enjoy my interpretation. I’m especially excited to share the song version at the foot of the poem! It’s wild!
In the Dark and Dreadful Night
by Lesley Scoble
in the dark and dreadful night
the great ship found it hard to stay upright
in the wildest wind and lashing rain
waves crashing—crashed again—and again
it leaned to and fro in pitch and roll
the boat yawed and tossed without control
the skipper clung tight to the wheel—
peering through a porthole of rusted steel
in the dark and dreadful night
he watched from the storm-lashed bridge
in unease and fright,
his eyes scanned turbulent seas—
searching for a tiny flicker of light…
in the blackness of the tempest—
he couldn’t see…
then the watch yelled from the deck;
“There it is—to starboard! I see the light!”
“By heck, I hope you’re right,” the captain cried
the small flicker of the lighthouse flame
guided the giant ship home
away from the violent open sea
to sanctuary
to the safety
of the quay
to drop its anchor in the dock…
sitting stilled in the harbour…
the skipper recovers from fear and shock,
“Phew! That was tough!
I’ve never known a sea so rough!
bosun, I think you’ll agree—
shall we now all have some tea?”
—Lesley Scoble, July 2025
Music Audio—‘In the Dark and Dreadful Night’ is now a song! Please enjoy!
THANKS
Thank you, Sadje, for your wonderfully inspiring and motivational #WDYS prompts.
And thank you to you, the reader, for reading—and/or listening to—my poem. 🙏
LesleyScoble.com 
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