A Heart Of Darkness

The Young Men and the Sea
DVMAN International
Photography by Kalle Gustafsson
via The Fashionisto

"...there is nothing more enticing, disenchanting, and enslaving than the life at sea"
(Lord Jim, Joseph Conrad)

The sea is a being which has inspired writers, poets, artists and indeed humanity since time began. It is said to have no memory, nor has it any loyalties. One may treat it with respect for a lifetime, yet in one moment, it may choose to drag one violently down into its silky darkness, only to return instantly back to its deceiving calm.

It is a place where one can become anyone they seek to be, and indeed it has long attracted those wishing to forget their past. It is both a means of life and fortune, but yet it remains unlucky for even those who have spent their lives enraptured by its mysterious allure. One can seek to understand the ways of the sea, yet after a lifetime it is still as impenetrable as it was the day when one first set eyes upon its glistening surface.

Indeed the sea has always had a certain deep held fascination for me. It is the romantic idea of donning a duffel coat, a copy of Heart Of Darkness in hand, and sailing to wherever the winds took you. Allowing the sea to guide you to lands of which you have only ever half dreamed, to meet people whose lives you could have never imagined and indeed that most important discovery of all, that of truly finding yourself.

Of course in reality, a life at sea is one of the hardest one could imagine, and yet for many, it is in that daily struggle that one finds a sense of peace and inner calm. However, I suppose I shall always have a romantic image of life at sea from ages past, and maybe one day in the future, I will have my adventure.

On a side note, I have been debating whether I ought to sign up to Twitter. I have noticed a number of bloggers using the platform, and just wondered how many of you use it, and would recommend that I sign up? Many thanks.

Currently playing: Luck Be A Lady - Frank Sinatra

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