Pauline of ‘Memories are Made of This’ has nominated me to do the 5 photos, 5 stories. So my intention its to stick to a self-imposed theme of ‘a sense of place’, and see how I can interpret this in different ways.
For day 2, I have gone back over quarter of a century for this. The image is scanned in from a slide, and I shall let my poem do the talking (One I have revisited and polished).
Spinalonga, 1987
Summer blue sky and vivid light,
white stars dance sparkling on the sea,
our boat cleaves through the water.
At the island we step lightly
through that forbidding arch,
into pure, tragic melancholy.
In the hushed air
echoes of distant voices
from long-stilled lives.
All the past
present in these ruins.
Entrance, Spinalonga
And now I need to fulfil the second part of this challenge, and invite another blogger to take part. Today I would like to nominate Viveka of My Guilty Pleasures, who has a great zest for life, loves travel, food, music and taking pictures wherever she goes.
There’s no obligation, Viveka – have fun if you want to join in!
The challenge is to just “post a photo each day for five consecutive days and attach a story to the photo. It can be fiction or non-fiction, a poem or a short paragraph and each day nominate another blogger for the challenge”.
I’ve never heard of Spinalonga, but your second verse sent me googling. Thank you, an evocative poem about a place with a remarkable and sad history.
Thanks, Gilly.
I once visited Spinalonga. We went (with all the others) to see the abandoned Leper Colony, and the old fortress. I liked it a lot, although there were a lot of tourists there on the day we went. I left this trip off my Crete Holiday post, as it was already long enough.
Once again Sue, thanks for the memory.
Best wishes, Pete.
When did you visit, Pete?
I am sure it must have been 1984, which was my only visit to Crete, although I had been too Greece before that. We were staying near Aghios Nikolaos and went over to the island on a boat trip. It took all day, returning late afternoon.. It was mid-summer, very hot, and too many tourists in groups, as I recall .
So just a few years before I went…. I recall a very hot afternoon, and a guided tour but I hung back to take photographs. I now wish I had taken more, but in the days of film I was quite careful!
Wonderful poem to go with your image, Sue. I remember reading Victoria Hislop’s book ‘The Island’. Such a sad place.
Thanks, Sylvia… Not as rhythmic as I would like, but I think it gets the message across. I read Victoria Hislop’s book, and thought it was very evocative…
your poem and photo evoke the feeling of stepping into ruins very well. I enjoyed both. Pure tragic melancholy is a great line.
Thanks, Suzanne, glad you liked….
I love the composition of your photo Sue, it gives an impression of looking into the past and the blue hue is so sombre and sets the atmosphere of the island with a sad history. It is fun to look back isn’t it?
It is! I have my ‘Happy Drawers’ in the house, with all kinds of stuff from the past…any item picked out will bring back floods of memories 🙂
Love that phrase “happy drawers” Sue. We all need those don’t we…
Indeed!
A place so close to my heart as you know Sue…lovely poem and photo…
Thank you, Sherri
Nice post, a lovely interpretation.
Thanks! Glad you liked 😀
A lovely poem to accompany this beautiful image. I love all the yummy texture in this shot, as well as the gorgeous light and shadow!
Thank you, Susan, really pleased you like the light and texture!
That’s Viveka crossed off my list 😦 Sadly…
That’s the problem with these challenges, eh?
beautiful evocative verse that is so in harmony with the image and the history. My long time partner is Greek and I lived in Greece for a time many years ago. Did you ever see a film called “Pascali’s Island” with Ben Kingsley and Helen Mirren. Takes place during the Ottoman rule. it’s worth a see!!
Oh, I don’t think I’ve seen Pascali’s Island….I shall seek it out!
Oh, and glad you thought the poem appropriate…
I loved it!
Great! Have you seen Day 3 yet – I have nominated you…..
I didn’t see!! not sure if I can as life has been so busy and still trying to keep up with my regular challenges on blogger but I will take a look!! Thank you for thinking of me!!
Well, there’s no obligation, and I did wonder if you might be too busy…. 🙂
but very honoured Sue!
🙂
Hi there, I will see what I come up with! Thank you for nominating me, this I should be able to handle. Beautiful post and image, love the little poetry – your????
Thanks, Wivi… And yes, it’s my poem!
Wow, you have many talents.
Thank you! I don’t write very often, though…photography is my default art!