Pier 54, April 21, 2012 – exactly one hundred years after the sinking of the Titanic.
Arriving by bus in New York City, the tour guide said, “This is Hudson River Park.”
Looking through the window, I saw a sign: Chelsea Piers.
Chelsea Piers – why does that sound so familiar?
The words buffered around my brain for a second or two, retrieving the information: Chelsea Piers is where the old old ocean liners docked.
Pier 54 is where the Titanic survivors were delivered by the Carpathia – hey, that’s exactly a hundred years ago this week!
I scrambled for my phone and opened the camera.
I took the shot just as we passed.
There is no magnificent dock anymore, only a corroding steel arch standing like a neglected, tired sentinel as people go about their daily lives. It’s hard to imagine this unremarkable structure as a portal to luxury, to adventure, to the stuff dreams were made of over a century ago.
C.S. Lewis wrote in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, in the chapter entitled “The Dark Island”:
“Do you hear what I say? This is where dreams – dreams, do you understand – come to life, come real. Not daydreams: dreams.”
In other words, nightmares.
I tried to envision the crowd, the men in overcoats, the women in long dresses, everyone wearing hats, as the Titanic survivors disembarked on April 18, 1912. It was night. For a fleeting second, I could sense the darkness, the shattered dreams, the unspeakable horror of watching that massive, beautiful ship break apart in the icy sea, taking so many passengers with her to a deep, watery grave. The nightmare was real; it would never leave the survivors.
In an instant, the darkness vanished, my glimpse of long ago ended. I blinked in the broad daylight. As my bus sailed on, I studied the photo. A bright light shines in the very center of the arch, which once bore the words White Star. I cannot tell if my camera was poised just right to reflect a flash in the window, to be captured perfectly in the middle of that haunting remnant, or if it is a phenomenon of light from some other source; nevertheless it shines like the sun over this relic of ruin, like day following night, driving the nightmares, the ghosts, away, hallowing this entrance to another time.
lit bits and pieces 
It is fascinating to me how some moments will always be frozen in time. I am haunted by the stories of the Titanic, though it happened so far before my life. I think the compassion and sense of humanity is most keen when we think about the tragedy of others. I loved your post. That past pops up in the smallest of moments and brings us a sense of connection that is hard to explain. Thanks!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for your comments, Paula! Kids are haunted by the Titanic as well – they generate endless questions and never tire of reading about it, so it’s a great motivator. Frozen in time is such an apt phrase, and yes – the haunting spell it casts over us is mystical, will always be so. I am so glad you enjoyed the post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you were able to capture the moment. It’s amazing how we are all still fascinated with the stories about the historic event.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true. The Titanic will aways pull on our heartstrings and imaginations. Thanks for your thoughts.
LikeLike
Many of my students have a fascination about the Titanic. I taught 4th grade on the 100th anniversary of the disaster, and I taught this big unit. I gave them all a passport with the name of someone on the ship. They had to research to see if they survived or not. It was one of the best units I have ever taught. This year many students chose the Titanic as the setting to their historical narrative. Your picture is quite captivating. Happy writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your writing today made me feel almost as though I was there with you experiencing this dark piece of history firsthand. The Titanic is such a fascinating piece of history. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
The Titanic will always mesmerize us – a very dark piece of history, indeed. Thanks for your reply and I am delighted that you felt as if you were experiencing the moment!
LikeLike