Monday, March 24, 2008

This Is Where



this beach
at this sea
of an end of the world

this sand
gathering
all the forgotten lives
of shells



these liquid horizons
embracing the pelican’s
lonely flight



this white beach

this is where I love you most



this beach
in this salted rumble
under this sky
with almost unrecognisable constellations
under this curiously tilted moon
this is where I slowly drown in my mojito



and think of him,
the Great Hemingway



he is in Havana still
on his chair
in La Bodeguita



we raise our glasses to each other
over the years
over the waters

while I sit on this beach
hoping to become a shell

among myriad



this is where I dream lives
this is where I write
this is where I love you most

this beach



To make your own mojito (pronounced moh-hee-toh) you’ll need:

1 teaspoon of powdered sugar
juice from 1 lime (2 oz)
4 mint leaves
1 sprig of mint
Havana Club white rum (2 oz)
2 oz club soda


(The complete recipe can be found on
Taste of Cuba.)

24 comments:

Unknown said...

nice pictures, happy easter

Aine said...

So beautiful! What a wonderful setting for a winter vacation.

Hurry up summer, I want to go to the beach!

Mojito's are somewhat fashionable in our area right now. Jason loves them. I'm still stuck on the pomegranate martinis, even though they are becoming passe (as if a good drink ever goes out of style!)

Mediterranean Views said...

Hi Vesper,
Nice "little something - a poem" and nice pictures. The best, the combination of the two. It reflects true relaxation, inspiration, reflection, all that vacations should be.
I'm back again, stop by when you get a chance.
Un beso, Amy

Anonymous said...

This post was great as always and that Hemingway note is awesome!

Paul

Jon M said...

Ace poem, cool pics but where in tartnation am I going to get a sprig of mint this time of year darn it? :)

Lisa said...

You had me right there with you. Just a beautiful poem.

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

Wow, beautiful pictures, beautiful words! Thanks for sharing. Now I need to have a Mojito!

Jeff said...

Very nice, Vesper! Thanks for sharing. :)

SzélsőFa said...

I love the photos of the ocean, Vesper. And the poem was just as lovely, too! Thanks for the virtual journey.

Anonymous said...

Inspired. An achingly beautiful.

Bernita said...

Wonderful sea shots.
I hear the surf.

Chris Eldin said...

I'm there! I love the photos and your imagery!
And I know I'll love the mohito.
Thanks for the recipe!!
:-)

Unknown said...

Salted rumble - I love that.

Travis Erwin said...

My wife loves Mojitos but I only like them if they are made with coconut rum. Try it sometime.

And thanks for the kind words about my first chapter. Soon I'll be sending out queries and I hope a few agents find the beginning intriguing.

Unknown said...

Great pics. I want to go to the beach! How beautiful.

Unknown said...

Oh wow! This is wonderful and so beautiful, Vesper! Sounds like you had a magnificent time in Cuba! And welcome back, you've been missed!
xxx

Vesper said...

Thank you, Ropi. I hope your Easter was happy.

Aine, thank you! Pomegranate martini - I have to do some research into that... :-)

Hi Amy, thank you for your kind words and for stopping by. :-)
xoxoxo

Paul, I'm glad you liked it! Thank you!

Thank you, Jon! I found it at the supermarket. Would send you some if I could... :-)

Lisa, thanks, I'm glad you liked it.

And I thank you for reading and for your nice words, Ello. I hope you enjoy your mojito. :-)

Thank you, Jeff!

Szelsofa, I'm happy you liked them. Thank you very much!

That's how the sea is... Thank you, Jason!

Thank you, Bernita! Me too...

Chris, thank you, I'm glad you liked them! You're in a good place to enjoy this drink - I think it's better when it's hot outside... :-)

Thanks, Minx! :-)

Travis, coconut rum? Sounds interesting...
Good luck with your queries!

Ashley, thank you and thank you for stopping by. Oh, the beach...

Vanilla, thank you, thank you, and thank you! :-) Yes, it's been beautiful... (deep sigh)
And I missed you!
xoxoxo

Akasha Savage. said...

You've done it again. That was so beautiful. :)

Taffiny said...

beautiful photos, must have been a lovely trip.

I love, love, love the poem.

"This is where I love you most"

"this sand
gathering
all the forgotten lives
of shells"

"this is where I dream lives
this is where I write
this is where I love you most"


on and on, I could go, quoting you happily.

no rum for me, but today I will gladly drown in sugared limes, and your words.

Anonymous said...

I was in Mexico recently, so our little vacations were similar. I was not near the beach, but I had my own version of "this is where." Yours was lovely, just lovely.

Welcome back.

Unknown said...

Thanks for visiting my blog. Everytime I see your pictures, I'm wowed.

Vesper said...

Akasha, I'm glad you liked it! Thank you!

Taffiny, I thank, and thank, and thank you! It makes me happy if those who read my little words can feel at least some of what I felt when they came to me...
Sugared limes... sounds good...

Thank you, David! So you know what I mean by "this is where"... :-)

Ashley, my pleasure. I will certainly return. And I thank you for coming back and for your very kind words. More pictures will follow...

S. Kearney said...

Excellent! I got such a nice panorama of your holiday through this. Very nice way to summarise a trip. :-)

Vesper said...

Thanks, Seamus! I'm glad you liked it! :-)