Scarlet Petals in Santorini

Posted on by jonicaggiano
Poem by Joni Caggiano – Picture compliments of GonnaBeWorthIt

Gazing out the white shutters of our villa in Santorini
my dreams nor visions could compete with this reality.
Observing you that first night at dinner, I dare not allow my stare to linger.
I could feel your heat surround me like an orb of glorious white light.
Such character in your face, written with poetic lines, in primal archives undiscovered.
The orange and reds of the sunset highlighting the attraction of each furrow
drawn with the grace of having lived life.
Your heart beats no longer here, for emptiness now occupies this lifeless space.
Bougainvillea blooms decorating walls where you had carefully loved me.
You washed my hair with tender words in the hot springs at Palea Kameni.
Placing lips where none had dwelt before, melting the underneath
of each new sensation.
Birthing yearning places within me that never existed before.
Caldera, the beauty of the sea lagoon you drew upon my bare breast,
as your voice with its deep tones brought tears with promises of our tomorrows.
Gone my beautiful Greek after a month, as you faded, so did the bright
scarlet petals on the Bougainvillea.

72 thoughts on “Scarlet Petals in Santorini”

    1. Oh thank you my friend. You are very kind to read my work. One must be careful when dealing with a tender heart always. I am happy you liked it. Have a wonderful day. Love ❤️ Joni

      Reply

    1. Oh thank you dear friend. I have never been there but always wanted to go. I am so glad you felt I
      Captured it well. That is quite a wonderful compliment. Thank you Cindy. Big hugs, love and blessings coming right back at you. Love ❤️ Joni

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      1. You’re so welcome Joni! Indeed it did and brought me back to the beauty there. To capture a place you’ve never been is a reflecrtion of your gift of vision as well as words. Thanks for the love and blessings.
        ❤️✨✨✨ Cindy

      2. Awe you touched my heart dear friend. You have a kind heart. I know people think I am hokey but I could tell by your video. You have an air about you, a lovely face which just seems to shine. Take good care of yourself right now Cindy. Stay safe and treat yourself with extra love. 💕❤️🦋🦋Joni

      3. I’m soooo glad Joni! I never think of you as hokey; maybe because we are birds of a feather. That’s kind of you! If you ever want to be my guest on Wed. night for yoga at 5 on Zoom, lmk. I’ve been making more videos.. need to list them on Youtube. Have great day and thank you fofr the blessings!! ❤️❤️❤️
        xo C

      4. What a kind offering, let me think about it. I will have to check out your videos my friend, I bet they are great. You really should put them on Youtube for people that have to do their workouts really late or very early morning. I bet they would be a big hit. Saying we are birds of a feather is a compliment my friend, so thank you. You may be right. Have an amazing evening Cindy. I am excited to view your new videos. Sending lots of love and newly trained fairies to show you so great dance moves for the videos, since we have been locked up, I have made lots of new friends. The fairies are the most cleaver and they love helping to do laundry, cleaning and cooking. Love and hugs dear Cindy
        xoxoxo

      5. Oh I mean it Joni but enjoy the videos on Youtube. I have a 12 one being released tomorrow. It got cut short with 2 of my animals coming in. Thank yhou for your kind and loveing thoughts. Yes, I have a lot of new friends as well which is such a blessing. Please send the fairies that do laundry and cooking and cleaning over my way.. I could use them. Lol. Hugs back! ❤️🤗

      6. Consider it done. Wow I didn’t know you already had twelve on YouTube. Good for you. You are a hard worker. By the way the fairies always leave fairy dust where they visit and you can use it to do any wonderful thing you want. Perhaps if you let them do a work out video with you, they like to stay in shape, they might leave enough to replace or reforest all of the beautiful trees that burned in California. Wouldn’t that be something. Love ya Cindy. 🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️🦋 Joni

      7. Thanks Joanie for checking that out! OK, I will call on them from now on as I tend to like to ignore all the chores of household duties. LOL and I did post about my fallen tree so I will definitely call them over to help renew our energy and forest in our yard. XOXO big hugs and love

  5. Ah, Santorini! Valerie and I spent our silver wedding anniversary on the island, visited the smoking calderra, took a lovely massage together in a splendid spa, visited the historical sites. It’s a fascinating island, and your poem brought back the joy, the underlying mystery of the place with it’s ever-present threat of explosive eruption, and it’s stark beauty. Thank you, Joni!

    Reply

    1. Oh wow I am so glad. You are the second friend who has responded who
      Has been there. I never have but read about this glorious place and have always wanted to go. What a beautiful place to spend a wonderful anniversary. I bet you took a lot of photographs there. Thank you for your kind words Stuart they mean a lot to me. You are such a great writer. Thanks again and glad you enjoyed it. Love to you and Valerie. ❤️💕Joni

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      1. It’s an island of great contrasts, Joni, with one side where the cliffs are almost sheer and drop several hundred feet into the open sea now covering most of the caldera. The beaches are black sand, due to the volcanic nature of the place. If you get the chance, it’s certainly worth a visit. Keep safe and stay well.

      2. Sounds so wonderful. We went to Spain when my daughter was studying there. First in Granada and then for her Master’s Program, the University of Madrid, forgive me if I already mentioned this. Anyway we traveled around a bit to several places by ourselves as she was with her boyfriend, and I wanted so badly to go to Greece. I hope someday I will be able to. I simply feel in love with Madrid. We walked everywhere, which I loved, ate pastries and Jamón. I simply loved the people, food, sites, and dining out at 10:00 PM and the meal lasting till 12:00 PM. His family comes from the tip of the boot and is obviously Italian. Talk soon my friend. Hugs, Joni

  6. I love the inclusion of local landmarks and flora which help to immerse the reader in the locale. The Cyclades islands are some of the most beautiful places in the world. This took me back to my own adventures and flooded me with memories of wonderful days spent in the Mediterranean. Well written, Jonikins!

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    1. Oh thank you Brad. I have always wanted to go and have read about it but never been. You have seen much of the world I imagine. I am so glad you enjoyed it Brad and that it brought back memories. Thank you for your kind words. Love ❤️ Jonikins

      Reply

    1. You are gracious and kind with your words and I do appreciate it. I have not been as active on line as usual for a couple of reasons. I have missed our chats. I hope all is well. I am sending hugs and coffee ice cream to you. Hope I will get to visit more soon. I am busy working on something creative and the creative Juices don’t always make things easy. Hope your loved ones are all well too. ❤️💕🤗☕️☕️☕️😘😘

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  9. I would have (I did) thought while reading this, that this experience is so tenderly sweet tinged with sorrow. And that it was quite factual as it painted such a vivid time/moments. Only in the comments did I realize the beauty of it also was the dream of it.

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    1. This is such a beautifully written comment. Perhaps the kindest thing you could have possibly said. Thank you so much for making my morning and for reading. You have touched my heart in the sweetest way. Grateful and smiling I write this note. Have a wonderful day my friend. Stay safe. Love to you and all those you cherish. ❤️💕Joni

      Reply

    1. Thank you dearest Button. I appreciate your kind and gracious words my friend. I always appreciate the kindness you show me by reading as I know your schedule is crazy. I hope that life has been filled with wonderful things, full of love and great happiness.
      Love to you,
      Honeybun

      Reply

    1. Thank you so much. Your comments lift my spirits and make me feel like I am making headway with my poetry. Thank you for ready and caring. Your kind words always touch my heart Tiffany. Sending gratitude, blessings and love to you and your family. 😘🤗💕❤️🦋🦋Joni

      Reply

    1. I have always wanted to go there. It sounds so beautiful. I do write about loss a lot and I think we all pull from our experiences when we write.

      Thank you Anna for your kindness, support and reading. Love ❤️ Joni

      Reply

    1. Oh thank you for visiting my site. I know it would be dreamy to live there. I have never been there. I would love to visit. Perhaps some day. Love and hugs to you. 💕❤️🤗Joni

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  15. Ah!!! This is so beautiful, Joni!!! Smiling. I had a quite a lover in Greece in my youth as well….if this is literal!!! That wasn’t meant to last, Thank God..🤣..but the memories still bring huge smiles some days. You just washed them over me. Thanks for the lovely time machine! Sending Much Love and huge hugs Your way!!! 🤗❤️😊

    Reply

    1. Oh wow you know I am so glad I wrote this piece. So many friends have memories of wonderful times there. So happy it brought back good memories to you too. Yea!!! I have never been to Greece at all. However a little research and an imagination I do have. I have only been to Europe once. Exploring Spain with my honey, daughter and boyfriend who she fell in love with while studying there. She did not end up with him either wasn’t meant to be. Have a blessed Thanksgiving my friend. Love y’all 🤗💕❤️🦋

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      1. Ah! You’d LOVE Greece!!! It’s amazing. And I’ve never been to Spain….but someday! I hear the same about so many places there. Ahhhhh……travel….even in just the mind! Love You too! 💖💖💖

      2. You are so right. We also get to meet people from all over the world. What a blessing. Love ❤️ to y’all Katy. 💕❤️🧚🏻🧚🏻

    1. Oh thank you so much. I am grateful for your kind words my friend. So glad you liked it Mary. Have a blessed holiday season and hope you and all those you love stay safe. 💕❤️🤗💝love Joni

      Reply

    1. It is such a beautiful place. I have never seen this place before but would love to live in such a beautiful place. Sending love and hugs my friend. ☕️☕️☕️🤗❤️😘

      Reply

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