The salt pans of Sečovlje sleep while sailing boats shelter in place along the harbour
the sun also rises
I stretch out my hand and touch Croatia
the narrow peninsular’s dotted and furred with cypress and Mediterranean pine
the sculpture park we visited the first time
I came here
where all the dreams of a great empire sleep
like lions weathered still
rampant as ever
I’m in rapture brought on by
dreams of Atlantis
whispering beneath the waves.
© Experimentsinfiction 2021, All Rights Reserved
Posted for Earthweal’s Open Link Weekend #52.
Experiments in Fiction 
Loved the empire/lion imagery.
How do you pronounce Secovlje please?
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se-cho-vlye : does that make sense? Maybe I should add audio to this one as it might be hard to get the metre otherwise…
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Thanks. I enjoyed it anyway! Like a little song in my head!🙂
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A stunning view of where you live, Ingrid! Harbours are places of beauty and routine activity, with the boats coming and going, dipping and rising, and cypress trees and Mediterranean pines lend it extra beauty. I love the thought of you stretching out your hand and touching Croatia, and thos dreams of Atlantis.
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It’s so easy to find inspiration when the landscape hands it to you on a plate!
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Loved the vivid imagery throughout your poem, and I especially liked the finale…
“dreams of Atlantis
whispering beneath the waves.”
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Imagery isn’t normally my strong point so I pushed myself a bit 😅. Thanks Ivor 🙏
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I could visualise scene your words were expessing..
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Ah, I LOVE this poem, Ingrid. It’s atmospheric and beautifully written. .
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Thank you so much, Gabriela. I think I was influenced by your poetry here!
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Oh, that’s such an honor Ingrid. Thank you.
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This is SO good!
This line was wonderful!!! (the whole poem was terrific – but the lions? WOW.)
-David
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Thanks David – Venetian lions are quite impressive!
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This is breathtakingly beautiful… wow.
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Thank you, Lia: the scenery gifted me this one 🙏
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And now you’ve gifted us with a glimpse of it. :)) 💗
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such beauty in your words and picture Ingrid!❤️
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Thank you Cindy ❤️ have a lovely weekend 🌟
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You’re welcome and you too!~ ❤️
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This has an antique feel to it, Greek or Roman. A lovely place to be, and yes, the lions.
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There are some Roman remains close to the shore near here. And lots of Venetian architecture.
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Definitely a place for dreams of Atlantis. (K)
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Oh, this is lovely to read and envision.
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Thank you Sherry!
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Dreaming of the lost city beneath the waves….an ideal place, can one exist? In dreams anything is possible.
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It certainly is!
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I don’t know much of your personal narrative — it isn’t necessary here — but I infer you’ve relocated to Croatia from England and are rooting into a deeper older sense of self. That vibe is certainly vivid here, something which feels like a slow awakening, like Atlantis rising. Or inviting one to dive. Follow it! – Brendan
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We’re in Slovenia but from the coast Croatia looks close enough to touch!
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You are so versatile in your poetry. The topics, and style. I loved this one and could picture the landscape.
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Thank you, Deborah: seeing such diverse landscapes always inspires me!
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Beautiful and expressive, Ingrid. The reference to Atlantis is perfect! <5
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Thank you, Cheryl 🌊
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