The Raven and the Polish King’s Ring
A free-verse narrative memoir
“The Raven myth is about belonging and returning”
It is 1956. Poland. The Baltic Port of Gdynia
The Russians were at the border,
The Hungarians were on the march,
The Cold War clamouring at the door—
how could this come to be?
They were stripped of all they had,
their only chance
to flee.
Her mother
held her tiny hand too tight.
“We sail after midnight,”
the British captain said.
“Board my ship—
you’ll both be safe.
For London we are bound.”
Five days at sea
in the captain’s cabin,
among the captain’s charts,
stood a tiny Christmas tree—
forever fixed in the small child’s memory.
Late at night,
out on deck,
her mother
held her tiny hand too tight.
To see
Tower Bridge open
to welcome home
the Polish
refugee.
A raven flew swiftly by,
black against the London sky,
the Polish King’s ring in its beak.
The small child’s mother could barely speak.
It was a messenger from home.
—Lesley Scoble, October 2026
Audio — The Raven and the Polish King’s Ring — narrated by Ania Marson
I am chuffed that Ania agreed to record the poem, and I hope you enjoy her beautiful reading.
NOTES
My poem The Raven and the Polish King’s Ring is based on a true story. It tells how my friend, actress Ania Marson, and her mother fled from Poland to escape the stranglehold of Communist rule. The photograph below was taken by border officials at the time of their journey to freedom.
Ania’s true name is Anna Bujniewicz, and the myth of the raven stealing the 1st Polish king’s ring is reflected in the family crest. The raven holds deep historical significance for the family and, in my poem, becomes a symbol of their true Polish home, heritage and ancestry.
The W3 Poetry Prompt #234
Kim Whysall-Hammond is the Poet-of-the-Week, and her prompt “to write a poem about a specific person, real or imaginary, who has had to leave home”, sparked my idea for The Raven and the Polish King’s Ring. Click below to read the full guidelines.
Kim’s Prompt: home in motion
On Saturday, I met a woman whose family fled Bosnia to the USA when she was young. A name change and a Valley Girl accent mean people don’t think of her as a refugee. She finds this very funny.
This week, I’d like you to write a poem about a specific person, real or imaginary, who has had to leave home.
Your poem could tell a fairy tale, offer a confession, or recount the experience of someone you know, admire, or have just met in passing. These stories can also be uplifting, joyful, or funny.
Focus on one person’s experience. Tell us why they left and what happened to them. Describe their journey, both physical and personal.
Please include the word “home” in your poem.
Write in a known poetic form of your choice and tell us which form you are using. You could share your favorite form or try something new.
Acknowledgements
My thanks to Kim Whysall-Hammond for her inspiring prompt.
My thanks, as always, to our gracious host, David Bogomolny, for his W3 weekly prompts and poetic encouragements.
Enormous thanks to Ania Marson for sharing her story and personal photographs. ©️Ania Marson.
And thank you, Ania, for your beautiful narration of the piece.
Last, and by no means least, my thanks to you, the reader, for spending this time with me.
Artwork
Feature image: The Raven and the Polish King’s Ring | Digital ink and wash©️Lesley Scoble
Bujniewicz family crest | Digital ink and watercolour©️Lesley Scoble 2026
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