Wheel the wild dance
While lightnings glance,
And thunders rattle loud,
And call the brave
To bloody grave,
To sleep without a shroud.
Walter Scott


I recommend this music to set the atmosphere: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrOjTMWf5eM


This' the final version of my chars black flag. It went over a year in its development, like you will see when you search my gallery. After all efforts this was a mere doodle I did during a boring course at campus, and with one strike I had a better result then after dozens of serious tries. Talking about power of chance.

In our days, symbolism of death has more or less vanquished. For that reason, pirate flags are seen with a little amused bewilderment, like a Halloween decoration. However, Halloween was seen completely different just a hundred years ago, and the image of death was both feared and a reminder to the own, unavoidable end.
Symbols of Vanitas and triumphing death were so common pirates had chosen them to represent their messages.
In this case, the sceleton stands for death itself approaching, naturally. The fact its a canine bones might refer to the captain himself, yet that is not cogent at all. The hourglass shows the Last Hour being to close to end, and the spear for sudden, unpleasant and violence death.

Enjoy as I do :D