Alder Wharf — Puffin Tide Gate Keepers

The story of Alder Wharf

A fictional story inspired by the artwork.

Alder Wharf depicts six puffin tide gate keepers beside a wet stone harbor. Orange bills stand out against green and rust work clothes, and tall rubber boots suit the reflecting pavement. A valve wheel, gate lever, and striped measuring staff give the upper row three recognizable tools for controlling or observing the water.

The other keepers carry a rope, an amber lamp, and a folded chart. Rope is coiled on the shoulder, leaving a hand close to the belt. The lantern holder reaches away from the body to cast light across a wider space, while the reader holds the chart with both hands where the paper is easy to see.

In their story, the crew arrives before the boats begin to move. One keeper reads the height of the tide and calls the number to the person at the lever. Another checks the stone edge for anything the current might have wedged against the gate. They record the timing so the evening crew can compare it with the next tide.

Warm metal and lamplight connect the equipment to the distant windows, while the green background gives the puffins room to stand out. Caps, hoods, and scarves vary between figures, suggesting different jobs along the same wharf. The sheet uses the rhythm of small hand tools and taller devices to separate the workers within a shared harbor setting.

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