A sea of faces and a plane suspended from the ceiling at the Centre Pompidou, Paris. The plane is created with thousands of strands of tiny lights. Photos by Jordana Shalhoub.
For the Writers Island prompt, "message in a bottle:"
Living in San Francisco, I was involved in a romance with a poet who lived in New York. He wrote beautiful deep poems for me; in those days the only poem I'd written in many years was political. Searching for a romantic gesture, I remembered the fictional images of pirate ships, sailing the high seas; shipwrecked people stranded on deserted islands, rolling messages in bottles and tossing them into the ocean, in the fleeting hope that someone would find them; fair maidens being rescued by handsome soldiers; the stuff of swashbuckling adventures starring Errol Flynn.
So I created my own message in a bottle. After finding an unusual cork-topped bottle, I wrote a pertinent message on parchment, rolled it up and stuffed it inside the bottle. I lined the inside of a large box with wrapping paper depicting nautical maps and ancient ships sailing the Atlantic. I filled the box with shredded paper in oceanic colours of aqua, blue and green to cushion the bottle. Next I tossed seashells, seahorses and soaps shaped like shells and sprinkled Ocean potpourri (from Pier 1) into the box. Then I sent the package off to New York, where it apparently created quite the kerfuffle at building security. Eventually it reached its intended recipient, who greatly appreciated the gesture and the message.
After a long and circuitous voyage...
The message reached you
and touched your heart
for a moment
until you remembered
the obligations and routine
that governed your life
so you set the bottle
on a shelf for all to admire
and tucked the message
safely away in a drawer
for those mad moments
when dreams of possibility
tempted you to consider
joy might be within your grasp
if you had the courage to reach.
I loved your story...a message in a bottle in a box.
I wanted to thank you so much for your comment on my post. Sometimes the truth seems impossible and the story becomes the truth.
b
Posted by: Barbara Torris | 18 October 2007 at 05:44
Message went into the drawer and the bottle was on the shelf for all to see.Superb!!I loved it.
Posted by: Ps | 17 October 2007 at 11:05
This resonates so deeply ... "if you had the courage to reach." Oh T, I think we have so many stories to share one day! xx, JP/deb
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 17 October 2007 at 08:13
I love your poem, especially the ending.
Posted by: January | 17 October 2007 at 06:36
I love this idea. A great poem and a wonderful story.
Posted by: January | 17 October 2007 at 06:34
A delightful writing. Lovely message. Gorgeous pictures. And a certain amount of hope gone south.
Posted by: Tumblewords | 17 October 2007 at 05:07
I'm with everyone else...great story. You are so creative. What a wonderful, thoughtful way to keep romance alive. I'll bet he still thinks about that package!
Posted by: jillypoet | 17 October 2007 at 03:35
This is the total package! Wonderful poem, story, and pic's.
Posted by: Dan | 17 October 2007 at 03:25
What an amazing gift that was! That is something that can be treasured for years to come, something with impact and heart.
Jordana definitely has an eye for photography!
XOXO
Posted by: Lisa M.S. Oceandreamer | 17 October 2007 at 02:30
Lovely story, lovely poem. It says more that the words tell us....
Posted by: pepektheassassin | 17 October 2007 at 01:59
what an amazing memorable gift idea... this was very special....
Posted by: paisley | 17 October 2007 at 01:53
Beautiful poem! And what a great way to send it.
Posted by: fleur | 17 October 2007 at 01:14
wow, i can imagine the recipient was impressed by this unusual declaration and matching decor!! who wouldn't?? i'm sure he hasn't forgotten it and never will, tara!!
Posted by: marita | 17 October 2007 at 00:29
Breathtaking!!!!!!!!!
I would love to find a message in a bottle!!
Posted by: cherie | 17 October 2007 at 00:06
I love the pictures! Those little lights would be a site to see in real life.
Did you really send the message? That's so neat. I wish you had a picture of it. I'll have to leave it to my imagination...lol
As far as kefuffle, haven't heard that word in awhile. I'm a living kefuffle. Is that proper use? ;)
Posted by: Just Jen | 16 October 2007 at 23:40
joy might be within your grasp, if you had the courage to reach it. I absolutely love it. I also love how creatively and wonderfully the bottle was packed in the box. Have a great day.
Posted by: marja | 16 October 2007 at 22:33
Not only do you put your romance in prose, but you live it as well! Well done. Scott
Posted by: Scott | 16 October 2007 at 21:45
Wow! Wonderful poem, quite romantic. And sending that bottle with the message is quite a gesture, hard to forget.
Posted by: lissa | 16 October 2007 at 21:40
That's such a beautiful thing to do! The recipient must have treasured it Tara!!
Posted by: Sophiehoneysuckle | 16 October 2007 at 21:35
I just love coming here! You always take me to such beautiful places, Thank You.
Sandra Evertson
Posted by: Sandra Evertson | 16 October 2007 at 21:02
That is very romantic!
I love the poem too.
I am no longer afraid to reach!
xoxoxo
Posted by: Colette | 16 October 2007 at 20:44
As always Tara, this is beautiful... I do so enjoy your site... Let us hope that the message is safe......
love-Melanie-bd
Posted by: Melanie-bd | 16 October 2007 at 20:14
What a creative way to make him think. Look what he let slip away. ;) XXOO
Posted by: Tammy | 16 October 2007 at 20:11
This is a lovely, touching story and poem. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Mark | 16 October 2007 at 19:58
Oh you old romantic you :)
Posted by: Di Overton | 16 October 2007 at 19:31
How wonderfully romantic! I love it!
Posted by: Wildlife Gardener | 16 October 2007 at 19:07
Tara,
Beautifully done girl.
There's nothing like a little swashbuckling to set the stage for magnificent romance.
rel
Posted by: rel | 16 October 2007 at 19:07
Wonderful story, wonderful memory Tara. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: artzyjudie | 16 October 2007 at 19:02
If only...that was lovely. loved the photographs too...thanks for sharing.
Posted by: UL | 16 October 2007 at 18:43
You never fail! A lovely piece. I like your place! I will pop back later and have a wander around.
Posted by: keith hillman | 16 October 2007 at 18:29
You never fail! A great piece. I like your place!
Posted by: keith hillman | 16 October 2007 at 18:27
"
joy might be within your grasp
if you had the courage to reach."
just too good. thanks for sharing this one.
Posted by: Rambler | 16 October 2007 at 18:26
Life! Carpe diem. :-)
Posted by: Merisi's Vienna | 16 October 2007 at 17:07
Wow Tara,
How incredible.
Many of us have been in a situation like yours,
but most never got to say your piece.
It gave you power to do what you did.
It was a creative way to make a deep point!
Have a great day!
Jordana is a good photographer.
Posted by: rochambeau | 16 October 2007 at 16:39
I'm impressed by the word Kefuffle, as well and surprised it fit so well. What a magnamous gesture. I'm amazed at how many people are giving me such wonderful responses to this prompt. Mine is so mundane. But, what fun I'm having reading others. Now to breakfast.
Posted by: Mary t. | 16 October 2007 at 16:23
What a lovely story. Your creation was truly a symbol of how much you cared about him. He was a lucky man.
Take care,
Connie
Posted by: Connie | 16 October 2007 at 16:18
The poem is so poignant - what a touching, romantic gesture that was, Tara. ~ xox
Posted by: tinker | 16 October 2007 at 16:17
What a brilliant idea THAT was! Loved it. I would adore anyone who did that for me. Very romantic indeed!
Errol Flynn, loved him.
Pier 1, love that store.
xo
Blue
(I won't be doing a story this week, I am taking a break. So enjoy, and I'll still be around to comment all week! ;D )
Posted by: Gillian @ Indigo Blue | 16 October 2007 at 15:15
Loved this Tara.. It's a lovely painting of words to paper, and i agree, brownie points for using Kefuffle!! lol.
peace and fun, Kai
Posted by: Kai | 16 October 2007 at 15:09
"if you had the courage to reach" intensely grabbed my heart- sigh-----
I've been away from blogging too long to know of this prompt. You wrote an interesting piece in response to it.
Hope all is well w/ you.
Posted by: GeL | 16 October 2007 at 15:06
Love the ending, love it. And the story is wonderful......
Posted by: Jo | 16 October 2007 at 14:46
wonderful story tara, and beautifully told. i love it and your words!
Posted by: elsa | 16 October 2007 at 14:26
Obviously he did not reach...
I like!
Posted by: gautami | 16 October 2007 at 14:23
What a great story.
Have you heard yet about next week?
Posted by: Brian | 16 October 2007 at 13:56
It is certainly your poet's loss that he wasn't able to reach. Such a beautiful gift to squander...
PS Extra points for using the word "kefuffle". Love that.
Posted by: Robin from Israel | 16 October 2007 at 13:51