Much of the look of Seven Days of Daisy is based on realism, but simplified with cut paper, pastels, and indelible memories. In the illustration above, the girl is awed by fireflies while a ship sails silently past. That ship is the Scotia Prince, a ferry that made daily trips to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia for many years. It left it’s dock in Portland every evening, from May through October, at 8 PM, and it’s deep horn marked the twilight hour better than any clock.
It was such a magical sight, glittering on the water. I did this pastel a few years ago, a view from the bay side of the island.
The Scotia Prince ceased operation in Casco Bay several years ago. Now Portland is plied by much bigger, wider cruise lines.
As we headed backshore on the eve of the autumn equinox to mark the subtle but symbolic passing of summer, I caught sight of a ship leaving.
Ships are loaded with metaphor around passages, unknown horizons, and charting courses.
We took the occasion to light a lantern, watching it slowly drift downeast.
It held the same awe as finding fireflies. The light floated off beyond the clouds, full of our sunny summer moments.
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When we lived in Whitecap and could look out at the Scotia Prince coming into Portland Harbor each night, we used to determine who had to do dishes by guessing, down to the minute, what time its smokestack would cross behind Ram Island Ledge lighthouse.
I am so glad to hear your memories around this long gone ship. The evenings aren’t the same.