Sunshine Challenge #6: Amphitrite

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

The prompt is Amphitrite.



Prompt 6: Amphitrite
Amphitrite is the goddess of the sea, wife of Poseidon, and eldest of the fifty Nereides. She is the female personification of the ocean: the mother of fish, seals and dolphins. Poseidon chose Amphitrite from among her sisters as the Nereids performed a dance on the isle of Naxos. Refusing his offer of marriage, she fled to Atlas. The dolphin-god Delphin eventually tracked her down and persuaded her to return to wed the sea-king. She also bred sea monsters, and her great waves crashed against the rocks, putting sailors at risk.

Please feel free to respond in whichever way comes naturally to you, be it thoughts that you share or a work that you create. If you’d like a more specific idea to kick things off: share a childhood memory or personal experience that reminds you of the Amphitrite theme.


1. Moodboard.

I read about the history of the color pigment ultramarine and did a moodboard and poem (villanelle) on that subject.



2. Villanelle

the richest blue, an azure deity
to the marrow born amphitrite-queen
ultramarine, the hue beyond the sea

precious ore with its own aureity
once pried from earth by colour-hungry spleen
the richest blue, an azure deity

rare stone, sovereign in its perseity
once ground, is ground again to powder sheen
ultramarine, the hue beyond the sea

dust of choicest homogeneity,
at last, greets drop of elixir serene
the richest blue, an azure deity

motes cease to cling, embrace haecceity
bestowing rare beauty, wealth, god-like mien
ultramarine, the hue beyond the sea

of earth, made hue, a dye velleity
a hue, a blue, made queen, pigment supreme
the richest blue, an azure deity
ultramarine, the hue beyond the sea

3. Reminiscences: I love spending time by the ocean. I remember going to Myrtle Beach and Isle of Palms (South Carolina, USA) when I was a child. I've walked beside the ocean in many places, but as far as actually swimming, I've been swimming Costa Rica and the Saint John's (US Virgin Islands) and Chile and Peru and Ecuador, and in the US up and down the Atlantic coast, from Delaware to Miami, and in the Gulf of Mexico at many points, Florida, Alabama, and Texas. My favourite swimming was snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands. Sea turtles and fish and coral. Really amazing.

Comments

[smallhobbit]

Stunning moodboard, lovely villanelle, and enviable reminiscenses!

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Thank you, thank you! It's a shame the person who did the original tumblr about the colours, only did 4 colours. I would've liked to read more about different ones. I liked the idea that is a ground mineral used to paint so iconically marine a colour. And the Virgin Mary, of course.

I like the ocean. I've never actually lived on an island, but I would love to live nearer to the ocean than I do. But the water has to be fairly warm for me to swim. The Virgin Islands had the warmest water, and I went in November.

[pensnest]

Ooh, I was caught by the moodboard's gorgeous colours, and stayed for that lovely poem. Very cool.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Thank you, thank you! I like your icon very much.

[enemytosleep]

The moodboard is gorgeous (is that a stone bottom center?), and the poem was very moving. The imagery in it is just so vivid.

I love that you've gotten to enjoy the oceans as you have!

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Thank you! Yes, that's lapis lazuli in its original form. I am glad you liked the poem, too.

I know! When I stop to think about it and count it, it is a lot. Not much now, but in the past.

[seleneheart]

Ultramarine pigment has an amazing history, and your poem captures that so well. The mood board is such a creative idea too, and a great way to fill the prompt.

I love the ocean so much, and I love hearing about your reminisces.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Thank you very much for visiting! I am so glad you liked the poem and moodboard.

[bemused_writer]

Really love your moodboard. It captures such lovely shades of blue. And I love the poem, especially that last stanza. Captures the majesty of the color well. (^^)

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Thank you so much! I am glad you liked them!!

[dr_zook]

Ah, what a delightful moodboard! ♥ Thanks for the link about ultramarine history & that poem is perfect, wow. Like the lull of a gentled sea.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Oh, thanks! I am glad you liked it. Yes, the song quality of the villanelle form shines through, so the lulling is absolutely intentional. I am happy you picked up on it.

[debriswoman]

An elegant villanelle :-)

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Thank you very much!