Black script tattoo reading A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor, with small birds beneath, on a person's ribs.

Quote and small birds on the ribs

Lettering · Ribs · Black and grey · Photo

A black script quote, A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor, runs across two lines on the side of the ribs, with three small birds in flight beside the final words. The lettering is clean and even, with fine strokes and soft shading at the edges of the letters. The skin is warm toned, the shirt is lifted by the hands at the top left, and a blurred room with a lit laptop screen sits in the background.

Lettering Ribs Quote Script Bird Text

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A story inspired by this tattoo · fiction

Dear Joe,

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The rain has been coming sideways across Pilcher Quay since Tuesday, and the fish market is a drowned thing now, trestles slick, the tarpaulins sagging like wet sails. Mrs Hadley has already sold her last crate of herring for half what she wanted, and she says to tell you that you were a fool to take the Morna out in that weather, which I am telling you on her behalf, not mine.

I went down to the slip this morning anyway and stood where Dad used to stand, under the chandlery awning, watching the gulls give up on the water. You will remember I was the one who said you should stay ashore till the swell dropped. You will remember you said a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor, in that flat voice you use when you have already decided. I have been turning that line over all week like a bad coin.

Here is what I have worked out. Dad never once said it to you, but he said plenty of other things, and most of them were about waiting for the right tide. Maybe the sea was never supposed to be smooth for us. Maybe it was only ever supposed to be ours to learn.

The birds came in off the breakwater at noon, three of them, sharp as pins against the grey, and they turned once over the Morna's empty mooring before heading out after her. I counted them until the rain closed over. Come home with your hands full and your temper cold. I will keep the kettle on at the back of the stall. Love, Nell