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Fable of Pipers Hole - Poem
By Todd Stephens on 16 November 2008 -
Fable of Pipers Hole
By Todd Stevens
Did William Edgecumb for his King,
-a Castle once Defend;
and superior puritan force appose,
-when with Culverins did descend.
Thundered the guns on Trescaw top;
Clashing swords were drenched in blood;
And in retreat, black powder lit, – Ruined Bastian where it stood.
Amidst smoke and falling masonry,
Will‘ took flight to Pipers Hole;
And in the dark and damp- laid low,
-as Round Heads sought his soul.
MV Cita - Poem
By Todd Stephens on 6 November 2008 -
MV Cita
By
Todd Stevens
Early one calm morning,
-as a skipper lay in his bunk,
-his ship passed by the seven stones,
-on its way to being sunk.
High up in the bridge astern, – a helmsman slept beside the wheel,
-with cargo motor vessel Cita, – held on course to ground her keel.
She approached St Mary’s quite unnoticed,
-with auto pilot held on lock,
-and steamed south of the island,
-there to strike Newfoundland Rock.
The Bishop men - Poem
By Todd Stephens on 3 November 2008 -
The Bishop men
By
Todd Stevens
Islands of disaster, – cause of strife and countless lost,
-‘til’ one too many shipwrecks
-saw a lighthouse built at any cost.
Designed by Mr Walker,
-tho’ built by Douglass engineers,
-the first lighthouse made of iron, – washed away as locals feared.
Armed with mere determination,
-and a granite replacement to construct,
-where upon that god forsaken rock – men placed their trust in lady luck.
Legend of Santa Warna - Poem
By Todd Stephens on 1 November 2008 -
Legend of Santa Warna
By Todd Stevens
When Scilly fell on desperate times – the Turks of Agnes bent to crime;
And called thy God for help and love
tho’ none, it seems, would come in time.
Frustrated looked towards the sea,
as for a wreck did lust,
for cargo rich with food and wine
For this thy souls Turks offered thus.
Instead a witch, in coracle round,
sailed from the emerald shore;
With mystic guile and promising forth
“Ye Turks should want no more”
Proud Plympton - Poem
By Todd Stephens on 30 October 2008 -
By
Todd Stevens
Steamer bound for Hibernia
in fog she ploughed along,
her heart beating at full steam ahead,
drive on – Proud Plympton – on!
Off course and situation lost,
unto the Scilly isles she doth go,
her siren sounding at a blast
sound hard – Proud Plympton – Blow!
Struck hard upon Lethegus Rocks,
south of Agnes in the mist,
as water filled her broken hull – the Plympton’s boilers gave a hiss
Treasure hunt - Poem
By Todd Stephens on 29 October 2008 -
By
Todd Stevens
I saw guns west of Annet isle,
-and searched the Spanish Ledge.
Explored the Crim extensively, – Just west of Zantman’s ridge.
Hanjague held nothing new in store,
-nor the rocks around Dry Splat,
-but drifting off old Southard Wells, – half a gunship lie intact.
Gilstone ledges were once draped in gold,
-Crebinicks held no clue,
to Isaccs ledge the eeriest place – I ever ventured to.
Steaming love - Poem
By Todd Stephens on 28 October 2008 -
By
Todd Stevens
Thirsty Little Western maid,
-made lonely Samson think,
-it was he and not his well she loved,
-but she was desperate for a drink.
Proud Schiller passed the Bishop, – cock a snoop, ignored his wit,
and with nose stuck firmly in the air
-she tripped arse over tit!
For a rich and powerful Dubliner, – Thames beating heart no longer raced, – she drifted into Jacky’s arms, – and stayed in his fond embrace .
The Thimble made of Gold - Poem
By Todd Stephens on 27 October 2008 -
By
Todd Stevens.
Lonely diver among the boulders,
-removed from aid or help,
-and out of touch from friends above,
-beneath a canopy of kelp.
Hunting artefacts & treasure,
-from another space in time,
-disturbing life o’er the bottom
-fathoms down within the brine,
Unearthing eagle coins and silver spoons;
-a brass porthole bent and old.
Tho’ best of all, the wreck gave up,
-a tiny thimble made of gold.
Lullaby of Rosevear - Poem
By Todd Stephens on 26 October 2008 -
By
Todd Stevens
Look not beyond these arms my child,
-fear not the waves so high.
Mother will keep you safe from harm,
-and the tempest wild awry.
Cradling thy head against my breast,
-perceive not the deathly crack,
-of timbers of the ships great hull,
-upon the Gilstone stack.
Stir not upon the Captains calls,
-the crew his tasks perform.
Keep your eyes to me my boy,
-not o’er the waters foam.
The Bloody Buccaneer - Poem
By Todd Stephens on 25 October 2008 -
The Bloody Buccaneer
by
Todd Stevens
Outcast; Outlaw; Cutthroat;, Pirate;
-the words strike hate and dread and fear.
They live a life of wreck and plunder,
-“Avast the bloody Buccaneer”
Cast your eyes upon the Ocean,
-o’er the Horizon a ship draws near,
-it comes to sack your town this night
-and brings the bloody Buccaneer.
Bowers drop in the bay at midnight,
-a ghostly vessel doth appear.
In the dark unfurls the Jolly Roger;
-pennant of the Buccaneer.
The Crooked Pin - Poem
By Todd Stephens on 24 October 2008 -
The Crooked Pin
By
Todd Stevens
Struck hard on Scilly’s dreadful rocks,
-a ship unseen; her name unknown,
And her Captain wept as all were drowned,
-a mere fifty leagues from home.
Through many a fathom the once grand ship
-wreck’d –plummeted like a stone;
The cargo spoiled; a treasure lost,
-but all’s fair by Davy Jones.
Entombed within the icy brine,
-held fast, the ship enslaved.
Lone pennon aloft her fighting top,
-appearing limp betwixt the waves.
The Nancy Packet - Poem
By Todd Stephens on 21 October 2008 -
By
Todd Stevens
Beautiful the actress travelling home,
-from India‘s golden coast,
with face as fair as her voice was sweet,
-as any nightingale could boast.
And by her side her infant slept; – life the Captains loins had given,
-tho’ the family scene looked so serene,
-this night would stand as un-forgiven.
A tempest in the channel swirled, – testing frailty of the crew, – black the night that hid the rocks,
-that came late into view.
Colossus lost treasures retrieved - Poem
By Todd Stephens on 20 October 2008 -
By
Todd Stevens
Ancient sailors of Greece harboured respect,
-for Poseidon great God of the sea,
-who with trident aloft could summon the Ocean,
-to bend to his will and his need.
His kingdom was a vast -two thirds of the world,
-where he ruled in the depths all alone,
-with mermaids as disciples and council at court,
-to tend to his undersea throne.
Fine wares they were stolen from his people above,
-on Man‘o’War Colossus that sailed,
-so he followed below and bided his time,
-‘til his anger from the abyss could prevail.
The Ballard of Ann Batten - Poem
By Todd Stephens on 17 October 2008 - comments
The Ballard of Ann Batten
By
Todd Stevens
Betwixt stone wall and bracken down,
-moved a maid in blue so fair;
-her trusses concealed beneath a cowl,
-unearthly feelings cool the air.
Sweeping down the sloping path,
-with effortless floating grace,
-tho’ within a moments flickering eye,
-she disappears without a trace.
Melancholy, nay wretched, is the tale,
-mysterious maid on Garrison shore;
-a broken heart; a virtue lost;
-untimely death settles the score.
The Rachel Harvey - Poem
By Todd Stephens on 16 October 2008 - comments
The Rachel Harvey
by
Todd Stevens
The Crabber Rachel Harvey,
-out of Newlyn hauled her gear.
She was working south of Scilly,
-when a gale was brought to bare.
The Skipper knew her limitations,
-and of his men a seasoned crew,
-tho’ one aboard the vessel,
-to the fishing trade was new.
The wind blew hard; the rain came down;
-the helmsman turned the bows to north,
-and the engines pushed the vessel on,
-through the breaker’s in her path.
Sir Clowdisley in Command - Poem
By Todd Stephens Todd Stevens on 13 October 2008 - comments
an original poem by
TODD STEVENS
A fleet upon the Ocean,
-Sir Clowdisley Shovell in command.
“Press on – press on” his orders are,
-his death doth fate demand.
By dead reckoning he finds his way, – and blindly blunders on.
“Beware”called out the sounding lead,
”else rocks you’ll come upon”.
“Press on I say, I know my way- – to England’s green and pleasant land”
“Heave to” called out the knotted rope,
“else there you’ll meet your end”
The Diver - Poem
By Todd Stephens Todd Stevens on 12 October 2008 - comments
By
Todd Stevens
Diver get thee in your engine,
-you’ve heard the tales go round,
-of where Association, Hollandia,
-and Colossus can be found.
Get thee off to Scilly, – where the old time wrecks abound,
-to the Western Rocks; the Gilstone;
-and St Mary’s in the sound.
Gift from the Sea - Poem
By Todd Stephens on 7 October 2008 - comments
By
An Original Poem by Todd Stevens
Trader from a far away shore
Venetian? Turk? or Dutch?
What’s known of you is little,
-what’s now left -not very much.
Afore the wind you travelled thus;
-men strived to keep you true,
-tho’ bound thee for the Scilly isles,
-the tale known only to your crew.
Thomas W. Lawson - Poem
By Todd Stephens Todd Stevens on 26 September 2008 - comments
The Thomas W. Lawson sank 100 years ago on the 13th December 1907
An Original Poem By
Todd Stevens
Built in Quincy Massachusetts
by Crowley; Crowninshield
The Thomas W Lawson was
the biggest Schooner in her field.
A ship four hundred feet in length
and fifty broad all told.
Two and a half million gallons
was the storage capacity in her hold.
My Colossus - Poem
By Todd Stephens Todd Stevens on 21 September 2008 - comments
Some said she was a store ship,
tho’ this ne’er was her boast,
-as she sailed with Admirals colours raised
-and to blockade the Spanish coast.
The inshore squadron was her duty,
-the swift and sure with this were graced,
-beside Orion, Theseus and Bellerophon,
-Colossus took her pride of place.
A Local Tale - Poem
By Todd Stephens Todd Stevens on 19 September 2008 - comments
Lover left upon St Mary’s quay,
-the Pilot kissed full lips of red.
“I’ll return, fair maid, amidst Autumn leaves,
-keep a weather eye for me” he said.
On deck he waved her fond farewell,
-as his ship put out to sea,
“Oh Lord “she called “bring a safe return,
-for I’m betrothed to thee”