Wednesday, January 22, 2014

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

14 comments:

  1. Oh, I feel your "snow pain", girl. lol This winter has been relentless here in Michigan, just like it has been for you. Spring will never be so welcome as this year. lol You are quite the author, Vera! What a beautiful story you wove in my imagination! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  2. Dear, dear Vera......

    First of all, I thought about all of you kind friends eastward, for we had heard the forecast. That is WAY TOO MUCH SNOW at once! And on top of that, to still be under the weather? We too are under a winter warning for VERY COLD AIR. We had a little snow last night, but the wind is kicking up the existing snow so badly, that it has made for blizzard conditions! It is currently -17 outside and we are finally inside, tucked in nice and warm!

    Oh Vera...how I see and feel your love for the sea and THE PEN. I can almost see (for I am a visual writer) a pen with a "ribbon" of calligraphy flowing from your pen, like a wave from the sea. It is evident that you have a feel for words and a passion, and I am so thrilled to have been introduced to YOU and your life. KEEP ON WRITING and I so wish you could join our poetry group that meets every Tuesday at my HOUSE! We have a member who is wintering in Arizona and she Skypes with us during our workshop !!

    Do you also enjoy writing prose? I can see this piece as a prose poem; it is stunning, bittersweet and has a classical feel to it. LOVELY! And do you have a favorite poet?

    Thank you for this lovely evening of POETRY my friend! Anita

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  3. Dear Vera,
    Now that is more snow than anyone needs! I am so sorry to hear you are down with the flu, I hope you recover soon.

    I love this poem.. It touched my heart in many ways.. You have such beautiful style of writing.
    Take care of yourself..
    blessings,
    Penny

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  4. Anita suggests prose. I suggest short stories of Alexio and Mire- their life together, their adventures, the people who visit their little cottage. I can't wait for the sequel.

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  5. So Beautiful Vera. I really loved this poem. The story was so touching. Sorry you have not been feeling well. Hope you feel better soon. Thank you for your beautiful writing.
    Kris

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  6. Such lovely words, Vera. You are gifted! As for the snow, this winter is just dragging - such a lonnnnnnnng winter, right? I'm sorry about the flu. I hope you all are feeling better and staying warm.
    Take care,
    Loi

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  7. Lové, lové lové this warming winters poem reading much like a story of old fables I so adore.
    Have you ever seen the movie Ondine? (Ondine)
    I love this movie, of a fisherman who catches himself a mermaid of sorts, they fall in love and live in a cottage by the sea, a fisherman s cottage. I love these fisherman s stories that tell of the sea, and at time I too will write of them.
    The music in the movie is so moving, it's divinely movingly inspiring ones heart.

    Vera, you must see this movie, it's one of Kerrie at Sea Cottage and my most favorite along with many others.
    This movie is a great movie to watch while not feeling well, in fact if you have net flux I am sure Ondine is on the line up, I own the movie, I wanted to see tis movie way before it would come to net flix.
    Let me know how you liked it, and let the music move you to wellness :)

    I hope you are enjoying the snow with its bitterness and dare to leave the home effect it has on you both.

    Looking forward to your next posting.
    Love yah dear friend.
    Take care of the body, feed it lots of soulfulness, let your wonderlust heal.

    Xoxo
    Doré

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  8. What beautiful words - so tired of this long, cold winter and anxious for spring. Feel better soon!!

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  9. Vera, I have been sick too and so this is why it took me till now to come visit. My son had the H1N1 flu a few years ago while on his H.S football team. It was really horrible because he played a game with a high fever and that is when he got very ill and we took him to the Dr. where they found H1N1. Very scary flu so please please rest. It takes about a month to recover.

    Now...Oh my Oh my, do I LOVE your story of the white sea cottage along the shores of Greece and mermaids!!!!! How did you know that I secretly live in Greece? * wink wink* Thank you for sharing your writings with us, they bring joy to my heart. xxo

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  10. Good morning dear Vera!

    I hope that you are well and keeping warm in this cold....I cannot believe I am this cold since I'm used to the Minnesota winters, but this is getting ridiculous!

    Thank you so kindly for coming by last night to my new post. There are (and YOU included!) some pretty amazing people out there who have made the last six years of my blogging experience so wonderful. I always say that I wish the whole world would just STOP, take time to build or make a positive piece of art, we could cease from war and robbery and differences...for at least one day. I wonder if peoples' hearts would change?

    I will be back via email. Thank you my friend. Anita

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  11. Good evening sweet friend! I hope that you had a good rest today? Sleeping and tea, enjoying peace and quiet, how can you go wrong, but get better!

    Thank you so much for your winter well-wishes! I too look out onto my garden, covered in what looks like white icing on a cake and wish that I too could pick a bouquet of flowers for you. I am looking forward however, to this spring when we can share our wonder at how all of the life that is buried underground for now is going to spring back to life. It will be lovely and life in Blogland in spring is so fun.

    Wishing you another evening of rest and promise for recovery tomorrow! XOXOX

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  12. Thank you Vera, for taking the time to visit and cheer my heart with your words. I am looking forward to hearing what you think when you have read my words in this inspiring Artful Blogging magazine, it's truly what drove me to wanting a part of this blogging world, and seeing the beauty in each featured artist, writer, and designer all meshed together in one beautiful place of inspiration.

    I hope these storm filled days find you well, back dancing, and creating and writing with ease.
    Best to you and John.

    Xoxo
    Doré

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  13. Vera! You came to Nowhere! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I do feel your smile, and so does Tea Rat. XOXOXOXOX

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  14. Lovely poetry! You have a beautiful way with words.

    My husband is from Philadelphia and I am from South Jersey. So nice to meet you! My sis-in-law has been keeping us up to date with all the snow and ice you guys have had lately. We've had a lot in Georgia too. Not nearly as bad as what you guys experienced, but bad for our area. Hope you are feeling better. Happy weekend to you!

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