Wednesday Writings – The Waterman

The Waterman by David Thompson

On the west side of the churchyard,
There stands a weathered stone,
An anchor there engraved,
Where grass is neatly mown.

A prime spot in the churchyard,
A man of standing in the Town,
And reflecting of the trade,
That for Hedon did abound.

For once the town of Hedon,
A thriving port did boast,
A connection to the Humber,
And inland from the coast.

But overtaken by its neighbour,
On the Humber to the west,
Which then for over time, the
Trade of Hedon, for to wrest.

And so the Hedon Haven,
That for so long had its` day
A regretted filling in,
Of once a busy waterway,

So, if around the Hedon Haven,
Do be vigilant at night,
For of a ghostly boatman,
You may catch a fleeting sight.

David says that this poem was inspired by the Hedon Treasure Hunt that took place on Bank Holiday Monday – it contained a clue “Who is buried under the anchor?” solved in St Augustine’s Church graveyard!

Are you inspired to write a poem? See our Wednesday Writings page.