Rose of England…
(Inspired by Sue Nichol’s painting of a coble, Staithes, North Yorkshire…)
She lies redundant, her name etched upon her hull.
Silent, with red and white livery sleek in the light of the morning.
A coble, basking in the relative safety of her mooring,
All equipment stowed during the peace of low tide
In Staithes harbour, reflecting a time long ago in the memory,
Revelling in its historic past and its previous identity…
She lies impatient, held by ropes coated in green dull
Weed, its palette upon pallid draining sand. And the fawning,
Clinging slime, unbefitting the vessel’s stylish bearing,
Lingers, relishing the next storm drenching and being hauled aside
In Staithes harbour, yet taking the strain and holding Rose of England firm against an angry
Ocean’s wild tousling and its cold, cruel, heaving severity…
Pete Ray…
9th December 2025…
Sue Nichol’s painting features the Rose of England, a traditional north-east boat, known as a coble, used for longline fishing and also potting for crabs and lobsters.
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