Today is the 103rd anniversary of the sinking of Titanic, which isn’t whimsical at ALL, of course, but I decided to take ships as my theme for this Wednesday. Here’s one from a series of decorative plates I  own, illustrating different famous areas of the ship. I thought the grand staircase was perhaps the most well known to share, since it’s seen in every movie about Titanic.

This Victorian trade, or advertising card, startled me when I first saw it, although of course the ship isn’t  Titanic. Seems like it’s sailing a bit close to that iceberg for my taste.

I never knew what all the different types of sailing ships were until I saw this delightful insurance company card, helpfully illustrating each variety.

Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing, only a signal shown, and a distant voice in the darkness; So on the ocean of life, we pass and speak one another, only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board.  Zora Neale Hurston

Put two ships in the open sea, without wind or tide, and, at last, they will come together. Throw two planets into space, and they will fall one on the other. Place two enemies in the midst of a crowd, and they will inevitably meet; it is a fatality, a question of time; that is all.  Jules Verne

The horns came riding in like the rainbow masts of silver ships.  Peter S. Beagle

My experience of ships is that on them one makes an interesting discovery about the world. One finds one can do without it completely.  Malcolm Bradbury