The smell of sea-weed rotting along the beach is the smell I associate with ‘il mare’ (the sea). People never say: “Ah … finally, the smell of sea-weed rotting on the beach!” they say: “ah … finally the smell of the sea!” They call that particular odour or perfume; the smell of iodine or the smell of salt air, which is very romantic but basically it is the smell of rotting sea-weed. In Tuscany the beaches all along the coast of Grossetto are protected by sea pines … in the summer, the smell of warm pine sap mingles with the smell of sea-weed. When I think of the sea, I think of Grossetto and particularly of the Parco dell’Uccellina in Alberese, there’s no ladies perfume that smells sweeter to me.
pine sap and sea-weed
under the August full moon
Alberese
© G.s.k. ‘15
Written for Carpe Diem Haiku Kai – Time Machine #8 – Perfume
That was written from the heart – so intriguing, and great humour in the first lines! – People never say: “Ah … finally, the smell of sea-weed rotting on the beach!” – so funny! You really created such a strong moof and feeling there. Very sincere writing. Nice point about the perfume.
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Thanks Hamish … it was fun to not write too seriously … often scents are wrapped in poetic words … the smell of the sea is one of those, brought home to me recently when we went to Venice 😉
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I meant ‘mood’ sorry
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Ah … 😉 I did like moof very much.
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What a wonderful balance of the romantic and the humorous! Yes, sometimes you’re better off **not** considering the source of your perfume (seaweed and musk are two fine examples)! 😉
Love it, Bastet 🙂
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Exactly … I remember women swooning over musk perfume and knowing where it comes from 😉 Glad you had fun!
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oh, very much! embrace that humor!
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a particular smell sometimes brings about some associations…a nice take on the prompt…
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Smells have a way of bringing back so many memories .. glad you enjoyed the write!
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Your photo is stunning, cara; I too enjoy these scents and you are so right, nothing has such a powerful fragrance … with these scents I am transported to Maine and hear the seagulls.
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🙂 from Maine to the Red Sea the perfume is the same … and I hear the gulls too!
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I like the idea of people getting excited by the smell of rotting seaweed. Your haibun really takes me on a journey to different beaches I have experienced. Thanks.
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LOL … they never ask themselves from whence the perfume 😉 glad you liked it and reminded you of these experiences.
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