Mermaids, mantled in mazarine

Fancy sees;

The ocean-sirens, and her, their queen

Of music-charméd memories.

Still breathes the ancient Parthenope.

O'er waters of modern Napoli

Her melodies.

Blue, - blue, - beautiful and intense, -

Everywhere:

Spirits, or some one spirit immense,

Breathing and burning in the air;

Making an ardent presence felt,

Till the rocks seemed as like to melt

In the glare.

- WILLIAM GIBSON, THE GROTTO AZZURO

Blue WONDERS AND DISTANT MEMORIES

The feeling of sea water rocketing into my sinuses - sharper than salt and vinegar chips. 

Barefoot children shouting the word medusa - a swarm of jellyfish. 

An irate group of boatmen, who swear, and curse one another, and sing as they row their dinghies into the blue grotto. 

A cave that is lit from below. The ceiling is dark and the water is illumined like blue flames.

Setting up our hammock on a flimsy metal guard, on a cliff by the sea. Only to have the whole thing collapse in a heap.