Three memorable poems about mothers for mariners
The wonder of water: A photo challenge
Five of the biggest ironies in today’s shipping world
Three memorable poems about mothers for mariners
A seafarer may be grateful to his alma mater for his education, to his shipmates for their camaraderie at sea, and to his spouse or partner for being faithful in his absence. But the one person to whom he owes a boundless debt of gratitude is his mother.
The wonder of water: A photo challenge
I am inviting all and sundry to submit their best photos for an upcoming Marine Café Blog feature about of water. It is my hope that the selected pictures will remind everyone of the immense importance of this natural resource to a world threatened by global warming.
Five of the biggest ironies in today’s shipping world
Simply put, an irony is an aspect of a situation which is contrary to what one would normally expect. A seagull perched on a No-Fishing sign is thus ironic. The incongruence between expectation and actuality, which frequently happens in the world of shipping, can be jarring.
US maritime heritage embedded in state seals
The expression ‘the docks’ re-examined
Recent Posts
14 great tips for maritime expats in Metro Manila
Several things make Manila and the adjoining cities in the metropolis a congenial place for expats. A friendly people who understand and speak English…beautiful women…great variety of food and entertainment…a relatively safe environment. However, Filipinos have certain quirks. Understanding them and their culture can make life more pleasant for the expat.
A touch of love: The marine drawings of Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh left behind more than 1,100 drawings when he died at age 37 on 29 July 1890. Sadly, but not surprisingly, they have been eclipsed by the splendid colours and well-deserved fame of his ‘The Starry Night’ and other oil paintings.
Drawing was a large part of Van Gogh’s artistic life. He put his heart into it, sometimes at great emotional cost. To give his drawings the attention they deserve is to do justice to the man and his legacy.
Mother and child by the sea in marvellous old photos
There is something quite endearing in old photographs of mother and child by the sea. The mother and her bountiful, abiding love. The sea, “the nourisher of kinds” as Ralph Waldo Emerson called it in his poem “Seashore“. The juxtaposition of the two makes for a poignant and powerful image that does not easily fade. It sticks to the mind and the heart.
A badass song for today’s shipping world
I recently watched the Netflix TV series ‘Inside Man‘. The theme song,‘God’s Gonna Cut You Down’ by American singer John Grant, immediately caught my ear. Somehow it reminded me of certain players in the shipping world, particularly those who contribute in one way or another to the suffering of seafarers and other people.
People and steamboats: A bygone era remembered
Save for a few survivors, the steamboats of yore have long vanished. Gone are their captains and passengers, the sound of their whistles, and the fumes from their smokestacks. The ghosts of the past, however, linger on in old photographs to tell their stories.
A trio of fabulous poems about fishermen
More poems, it seems to me, have been written about merchant sailors than about commercial fishermen. I find this rather odd. Fishermen, after all, have a much harder time eking out a living at sea.
The romance of rivers in precious old photographs
Rivers have as much power as the sea to inspire photographers. Here are some pictures on the subject from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although very old, they still brim with the charm and mystery of the rivers that captured the photographer’s imagination.
Marine art by 10 painters who met an untimely end
“He whom the gods love dies young,” wrote the Greek dramatist Menander (342/41–291 BC). Maybe so, but the death of a gifted artist at a relatively young age is still tragic. Who knows what greater things that individual might have accomplished had he or she lived longer?
Character traits of ship captains (the good and the bad)
There are all sorts of ship captains. Some are more admirable than others. But even those who are not so likeable can be interesting characters. Who wouldn’t be captivated by the morose and monomaniacal Captain Ahab, one of the main protagonists in Herman Melville’s 1851 novel, Moby-Dick; or, The Whale?
Specimens of Canadian marine art that will charm you
Canada has a rich legacy of marine art, a fact which should come as no surprise. Water is virtually everywhere in the second largest country after Russia. Canada has the world’s longest coastline (243,042 km) and the world’s largest fresh water area (891,163 sq km). The vastness and grandeur of the Canadian landscape have provided artists with a wellspring of inspiration.
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