Shipbuildly jetstone-black in Gothic waves!
Wingspansome batsail breaks the whalebone steps!
North of cracked Ravenscar ‘n south of Staithes
it stakes its harbour – by the saltwind swept –
where valley-streets in gorgely drops descend
from grand stone-houses ‘cross from ruin’s grave
past cobbleslanted shops (accord’yun played
up th’road from fiddle-shanty), fudge to vend;
then on as th’gull cries “Scampi! Chips! Fresh crab!”
‘n b’yond where th’gull dives to amusement-lights –
their coindrop gamesounds ‘n their colours bright!
At last, to pincer-piers of wooden slabs…
Where Whitby welcomes wand’ring wonder, there
lurks hist’ry, haunting ‘midst the salt-sea air!
Image credit – The Whitby Guide
william altoft 