Too many snow days and a poetic escape...

source ESPN-NFL

We missed the first snow storm of the winter. We had flown down to Florida to visit with my brother, sister-in-law and my Dad on December 7th. On Sunday the 8th the Philadelphia Eagles played a home game with the Detroit Lions and won in blizzard conditions. 8 inches of snow.

Watching the game in Palm Beach County in 82 degrees poolside, while eating an incredible lunch of grilled fish prepared by my brother Kevin to say the least was surreal.

Many more snow falls to hit Philadelphia and leave us all in the frozen tundra.

This snowfall fell overnight and dumped 10 inches with a crispy ice coating on top. It was about this time John and I both came down with the H1N1 Flu. Then yesterday Philadelphia was hit hard with blizzard conditions and over 13.5 inches of snow.

Nearly two weeks of fighting the H1N1 flu we are still indoors wrapped in faux fur. While outside our Prius has a pretty fluffy blanket too. I had a warm weather sea breeze dream (OK, it could of been a vivid fever dream) that I found so incredibly real I sat down and wrote this poetry of the dream. Enjoy and stay well.

A Fisherman's Catch

I'm full of wanderlust on this January night and want to be peacefully swept away from our icy wintry mix.

Dreaming of Greece I was greeted by sea breezes and sunshine providing me with my warm weather fix.

Walking barefoot in the sand, collecting nautilus shells I had seen at the Corfu museum earlier in the day.

I wandered along the shoreline without any destination or a plan, the lovely seashells showed me the way.

They lead me to a magical fairytale sea cottage, I didn't know they really exist.

I ventured up to the charming white cottage and knocked on the door, I couldn't resist.

A woman with a kind aura appeared, her soft flowing curls framed her face so lovely and fair.

Curls caressing her waist with shimmering light from her sun streaked sandy blonde hair.

She welcomed me in and introduced her Greek husband, a real Adonis proud and strong.

In love, living together in this fairytale cottage, you know is where they belong.

Over the evening they shared their inspiring fable, I totally believe to be true,

told in much detail, in their cottage of luminosity in painted hues of watery blue.

Once upon a time... while fishing for crustaceans off the shore of the Aegean Sea at night.

Casting his throw net into the water illuminated by a full moon big and bright,

he accidentally captured a beautiful siren of the sea, who was very seductive and charming.

The surprised fisherman didn't make any sudden moves that could threaten or seem alarming.

She sang her song, a beautiful mesmerizing melody, elusive and very rare.

An untamed mermaid of enchantment, to speak to her, should he dare?

He introduced himself as Alexio, a fourth generation artisanal fisherman out in the full moon fishing.

For he to capture such a admired beauty of the sea was certainly what his heart was wishing.

Her voice spoke softly and she said her name is Miren, which means of the sea.

Miren explained she is a sea matron of enchantment, who secretly longed to be set free.

Free from the sea, to walk on the sand and run along the shore.

Freedom to be a woman was something she always believed she'd adore.

Truth is, Alexio had no one to love and had a lonely life,

and he deeply hoped to one day make Miren his wife.

They met every month during the full moon for an entire year.

During their twelfth clan-destined visit, the fisherman faced his biggest fear.

The small fishing boat got caught up in the moons gravitational force.

The waters choppy and threatening, had pulled Alexio way off his course.

The mast in shreds, the boat capsized, a horrific storm at sea became a real tale of survival.

Praying to spare Miren from her fishtail and life in the water brought about a new fate arrival.

Alexio was drowning and might of very well died that night,

as he prayed to Poseidon to save Miren and make her future bright.

I am willing to die under these crashing waves, please give Miren her wish, just take me.

In exchange for his unselfish prayers, Miren and he were released from the sea.

Poseidon granted their hearts desire to live together on land, as husband and wife.

So they moved into the sea cottage and accepted the arrival of their new destined life.

But sometimes at night when the waves hit the shore,

The call for this mermaid to return to the sea has strong allure.

If off the islands of Crete you're lucky enough you might catch a beautiful sight,
and see a mermaid under the full moon swimming peacefully in the waves at night.

© Vera