This poem was written in response to Ben Tonkin’s evocative prompt for W3 Poetry Prompt #168. Ben, this week’s brilliant Poet of the Week, invited us to explore “old-times wonders—where cogs spin, gears click, and imagination runs on steam.”
I was instantly drawn to the idea of a vessel moored in mystery—part machine, part myth—drifting through mist and memory. Fantastical Vessel on the Ebon Tide emerged as a poetic response to that vision: a steampunk dream sailing on the dark waters of the Thames.
To read Ben’s full prompt guidelines, click below.
Ben’s prompt guidelines
I hope you enjoy sailing through my poem. I’m also proud to present its companion piece—the song of the poem! (You’ll find the audio at the foot of the page.)
Fantastical Vessel on the Ebon Tide
by Lesley Scoble
Anchored in a cool dark pool—
black waters of the Thames—
there moors
a vision of the past.
Oars move slow,
like aged arms;
the compass transfixed,
high upon the mast.
A monster stares
from the helm,
long and hard
into a distant void—
looking back in time
with rusted poles and sticks
a pick and mix
of moving parts
employed.
Riveted nails
weld pennants and sails
to catch the weird wind
that moans;
the deck groans
with creaking—
nothing is speaking.
A mist is rising
fore and aft;
cogs are grinding
with a deep and steady
clanking noise.
Wheels whirr, winding—
and, quite surprising,
in this ship of ship ahoys,
a magniloquent list
of other things
that have no name
turn round and glow
like lanterned buoys,
hanging limp on the starboard side,
in gothic dreams
of ebb and flow.
A fantastical boat
from long ago—
sailing on the tide.
—Lesley Scoble, July 2025
Music Audio—I’m excited to present to you the song of the poem! Enjoy!
NOTE
The inspiration for my ‘clanking boat / fantastical vessel came from my admiration for The Navigators by David Kemp, 1987, a 60 ft bronze ‘steampunk’ sculpture with the face of a man and the body of an industrial age ship. This kinetic sculpture is ‘moored’ or I should say dry docked, at the Hays Galeria, London, on the banks of the Thames. The sculptor was inspired by the shipping heritage of Hay’s Wharf, once known as as the ‘Larder of London’.
Here is a shot of the bronze assemblage snapped on my iPhone whilst taking a recent walk along the South Bank towards Tower Bridge. I love seeing it when it is in action—with all the moving parts clanking.
Timelapse preliminary drawing for the Fantastical Vessel on the Ebon Tide illustration (approx 17 secs)
THANK YOU
My gratitude as always to David, The Skeptics Kaddish, for his inspirational and motivational weekly poetry prompts.
Enormous thanks to Ben Tonkin for his magniloquent imaginative prompt.
My heartfelt thanks to you the reader, for reading / listening to my poem.
To discover more about David’s weekly poetry prompts, follow the link below.
LesleyScoble.com 
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