South African Sea Forest

Posted on by jonicaggiano
Poem by Joni Caggiano on 1/30/21 – Photo by Pia from Pexels


three hearts you own a kindred spirit of the sea
painting with ink, you soar
disguising you float
oh octopus
in shadowlands

the new world hides you safely among the kelp
calming the blustery current
mist moves like a widow
lamenting
In shadowlands

newborn jellyfish dance agilely in cobalt waters
soothing souls with dance
glass bodies shifting
effortlessly
in shadowlands

raindrops hit blue water with persistence
popping back into the air
blowing her spray
frolicking
in shadowlands

the sea at the end of this aquatic world
a life of dazzling jewels
a world still clean
below
in shadowlands

This poem was inspired by a documentary that lovely Katy Boyer from Foresting365 told me about. It may be why she painted that gorgeous octopus which can be seen on her site. The documentary can be seen on Netflix and is called “My Octopus Teacher.” It is about one man’s patient and loving relationship with an octopus, an incredibly intelligent, underwater chameleon, and how it taught him that we’re not here on this planet as merely visitors, but are part of something much bigger, much more intelligent than we are individually.

Thank you all so much for all your kind wishes while I was healing. I feel so blessed; you are all a very special part of my life.

50 thoughts on “South African Sea Forest”

  3. Beautiful words Joni, and I must say I’ve always been fascinated with the octopus 🐙 they are interesting and as well delicious, prepared Galician style. Take good care and all the best Joni, lots of love to you both from us here in Spain,
    F

    Reply

    1. Thank you my dear friend. I really appreciate it. I bet it is good cooked Galician style. When we were in Spain we could not believe how wonderful all the seafood was there. Scott has had octopus but I never have. I must say after watching this show I don’t think I could eat one. They are so intelligent it is wild. No wonder we artist are drawn toward the sea. Thank you. Sending love and flowers to you both. Love Joni 💕🤗❤️🦋🌺🙏🌻🌼🌸🌹🌹🌹

      Reply

      1. Yes, I must have the sea near, it is spiritual and material at the same time. And yes, I love to eat octopus but I also recognise them as amazing sea creatures. Thank you so much Joni and take good care,
        lots of love and happiness to you both from Spain,
        F

      2. Thank you dear Francisco. I love squid or calamari. I love most seafood as does Scott but he is a pescatarian and has been for more than a decade. I still on rare occasions will eat a steak out. Of course not now. By the way I know you are incredibly busy but I wanted to tell you how much I appreciated your good wishes and prayers for our Country. I was so touched by that. We, I believe are on the right path now, thanks be to God. So please know that your families concern for all of us touched Scott and I deeply. Have a great day you two. 💕🤗❤️🦋😘🌷🌻🌼🌷🌺🌹

  4. Well written Jonikins! I have seen that on Netflix but not yet made the time to watch it. I think I will have to give it a look now as you have elevated my intrigue. Glad you are doing well! Much love! 💖

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    1. Oh thank you Brad I so appreciate your support. It is wonderful to be back. I missed reading and writing. Thank you for your kind words. You will not be disappointed if you watch it. The story of this intelligent creatures are unbelievable. It becomes a story of a friendship and this man does this without scuba gear. Sending you so much love and prayers for continued safety. Love ya Jonikins 💕🤗❤️🦋🌹🐙🐙

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  5. Joni, this is a beautiful poem… The sea is surely amazing. You expressed its beauty with your pure words perfectly. That octopus is awesome ❤️😊🌹

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    1. Thank you so much Tim. I hope you watch the movie. I know what a nature lover and photographer you are amongst your many other talents my friend. I am so glad Katy turned me on to this movie. Scott and I both were in tears at the end. I never knew the octopus had three hearts or how they walk along the sea floor. They are the smartest animal without a spine. They have blue blood and regrow their arms. The guy lives with that octopus for just under a year and does not use scuba equipment. It is so beautifully done Tim. I pray you two are well and that your sweet animal family is also well. Sending hugs, love and blessings to you and your sweetheart. 🦋💕🤗❤️🌸🐙🐙

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      1. Sadly, octopi do not live long. When my daughter volunteered at the natural history museum they got an octopus who was a real character. It died a little over a year after they got it. It turned out that type of octopus don’t live much more than a year.

      2. You are so right. Something I would have never known but this diver spends his (just under a year) life with this octopus. When the female mates she often will eat the male. Then she covers her clutch of eggs not eating or ever leaving her eggs. She will die when her young are able to survive. One year like you said. I bet it was sad when your daughter saw that. So wonderful that she had that experience as a volunteer. Thank you for your comment it made me even more interested in the octopus. They will hasten their death when in captivity by throwing themselves onto the tank glass, eating the ends of their arms and pulling at their own skin. I hope your daughter didn’t have to witness any of that behavior. Give the kitties a rub for me and give my best to your owl family too. 🤗❤️💕🦋🌸🌼🌻

  7. What a beautiful picture of the undersea world. You are so right, Joni. We are part of something larger. Mankind though has forgotten that. I am so happy to have you back. I hope you are recuperating well, dear friend. With love, A. <3 <3 <3

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    1. Hi dear Anna I saw you had commented but we had just started our on-line service. I didn’t want to be rushed in responding. Praying for your whole family my friend. Our pastor was just talking about speaking with a man who was told he had only a year left but we all know how that works for believers. Only God knows and decides when we go home. I can’t count the medical miracles I have seen with God’s children. We are in control of very little when it comes to the big picture stuff. The power of prayer is something that is unimaginable to many.

      Thank you for your kind words dearest Anna. I am so much better and so grateful for that and for you and this community. I feel like I have an extended family like I always wanted. Some may think this is corny but I believe you know what I mean. Sometimes our real families can’t really be close for many reasons. My eldest sibling told me once it is too painful to be near you, too many memories. One has to respect whatever makes it easier on someone you love even if it hurts.

      I have not forgotten that God is everywhere and he hears every prayer. I love you Anna. Thank you as always for your kindness.
      💕🤗❤️🦋🌸🌼🌺🙏🙏🙏😘😘love, hugs, prayers and blessings coming your way this Sabbath. Joni

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  8. My dearest honeybun,
    This is a splendid poem. Fascinating also.

    “raindrops hit blue water with persistence
    popping back into the air
    blowing her spray
    frolicking
    in shadowlands”

    WOW. What an image. “Frolicking” I love that word.

    Honeybun, have a wondaful Sunday. Be happy and be blessed.

    Love you
    G (Button)

    Reply

    1. Thank you my dear Button. If you find an hour when you can immerse yourself in a beautiful story about a friendship formed between an octopus 🐙 and a man, please watch the show. I was moved to tears because of the incredible humanity shown in this documentary. An octopus has three hearts and bleeds blue blood. Now what poet can not be in love with the smartest and most behaviorally interesting of all the invertebrates. I am so glad you liked it. Thank you for your very kind comment. Have an inspired Sunday.
      Xoxoxo love ya honeybun

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      1. Oh Ben I hope you will enjoy the movie I really think you will love it. Such a beautiful relationship between a man and an octopus for the life of this amazing creature. Sending such love and hugs your way my friend. Love ❤️ Joni

    1. I Tiffany I just found this is my Spam folder. Sorry about that. Scary what you can find in your spam filter be careful going in. I am so glad you liked the movie, we loved it too. So funny you just watched it. Katy Boyer from Foresting365 told me about it. They live for one year, are the smartest creature without a spine, can regrow a limb, and are masters of changing colors. It was sad when he died in the end but in captivity I actually read that they will bang themselves against the glass and rub their own skin till it start coming off to hasten their own death once their clutch has hatched. So sorry I didn’t see it. Sending lots of love your way my friend. Hope you have a blessed week. xoxoxoxo Joni

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  10. Welcome back Joni 🙂

    I have not seen this yet on Netflix….but your poem has inspired me to do so. I appreciate the appreciation (sorry for the redundancy) that people have for beautiful things. Maybe even inspiring others to find beauty that they don’t normally see. Your words do that.

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    1. So glad you enjoyed it Stuart. The documentary is between one man for the lifetime of the octopus. It is so beautifully done. I don’t usually do this on line but last night Scott said you have to tell Stuart about this movie, which was The Dig. It is a true BBC Netflix movie. The story is about one of the most famous archeological digs in Suffolk. It is a lovely movie starring Ralph Finnes, Carey Mulligan. Excellent show. Let me know what you and Valerie think if you watch it. Sending hugs my friend. 💕🤗❤️

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      1. Thank you, Joni. Unfortunately, we don’t subscribe to any TV channels. Our ‘Freesat’ service gives us over 500 stations to feed any needs for entertainment and information. I’m curious, was this a documentary about Sutton Hoo, by any chance? We watch quite a lot of history documentaries. But, last night, we watched the last in the BBC series of ‘Perfect Planet’. If you can watch it, it’s a call to arms to the whole human race to actually DO something about the coming climate emergency. Brilliant as it is worrying. Here’s the link, if you can use it: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p08xc32c/a-perfect-planet-series-1-5-humans

      2. Thanks for the heads up on the other documentary. You are so smart, yet it is in fact, known as the “Sutton Hoo find.” It took many years for the real excavator/archaeologist Basil Brown, who was digging mounds on Edith Pretty’s property to be given the honor he should have been given for the dig to start with unfortunately. Such a beautiful movie and the property owner gave the find to the British Museum, which at the time was the biggest gift to a museum ever.

        By the way the second week in February sounds wonderful my friend. I have looked at your beautiful gallery before but will check out the two you suggested of course, and I will get back to you. Thank you. Love to you two. Joni

      3. Yes, Sutton Hoo was the name of the villa, near the Suffolk town of Woodbridge, where the finds were made. I drove through this town decades ago, when I lived in that part of the country, and many of the properties along the road sported Rolls Royce cars in their driveways: a very expensive place to live! The manor house is now in the hands of the National Trust and open to the public for visits; or, at least, it will be once this pandemic is under some sort of control!
        Looking forward to the 2nd week of Feb!

      4. How interesting, Scott thought you may have actually visited there. He was right. You would enjoy the movie. I too, am looking forward to our collaboration. I feel like I am part of that forest connected some how through your gorgeous pictures and words. Love to you two. Joni

      2. Thank you for the invite. Look for me with pearls in my red hair which is always braided and is as long as the kelp in the seas. You will find me there. Love you sweetie 🤗❤️💕❤️

  14. Great poem Joni, but I am still not a fan of octopi or jelly fish. I can appreciate them from a distance but would not want them in my pool, if I had one. Stay well. Allan

    Reply

    1. I use to feel that way until I
      Watch the amazing documentary “The Octopus Teacher.”

      We both cried at the end. The most intelligent life form without a spine.
      Thanks for your kind comment my friend and your support. 🤗❤️💕

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  15. Oh my Joni,
    I see I have missed a lot of your writing. I’m not sure how that has happened!!!!
    Loved this important movie that was so beautiful and full of lifew and hope1 💖💖💖🌷

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    1. Oh I am so glad you saw it. My husband and I both cried at the end. Forresting365, Katy told me about the movie. She drew a beautiful octopus. It was so lovely wasn’t it? I haven’t been posting as much as usual. I love you for checking. Life has a way of happening. 🤗❤️💕🎈🦋🥰

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      1. So many I know cried at the end. I actually have to watch it again. My hubby and I started it after another documentary so I think it was too much but the visuals were amazing and the heart of the movie divine. I did love what I saw for surew. Those pics were incredible! It does work like that and glad we’re back in sync!💖💖💖🌷🌷🌷

      2. Me too. Yes, think what would happen in our world if people would devote just an hour a day doing something beneficial to our environment. I was in awe of the beautiful filming also. Just an amazingly beautiful at your spend a year of your life. I too am glad we are back in sync. ❤️❤️❤️😘😘🥰🥰

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