Blue Flag Aloft

The ship in the harbor is sailing with a blue flag aloft; returned from a season of trading, its crew is in sorrow for the captain has crossed from this life into the great unveiling at God's golden shore. Note: If you are sad and describe yourself as "feeling blue," you are using a phrase coined from a custom among many old deepwater sailing ships. If the ship lost the captain or any of the officers during its voyage, she would fly blue flags and have a blue band painted along her entire hull when returning to home port. (Origins of Naval Terminology) For: Blue Poetry Contest Sponsor: Mystic Rose Rose