Let us lighten the mood a little bit, shall we?

     I just submitted my first story for my Creative Writing class tonight. We were supposed to find a picture, painting, or drawing and write a poem, short story, dialogue, or essay about the picture. The first picture that popped into my mind when I was reading about the assignment was Birth of Venus by Botticelli. I remember seeing this painting in person for the first time when I was in Florence, Italy, and the emotions it evoked. I'm pretty sure I cried a little. If you can look past the nakedness of the woman and really pay attention to the art of it, I think you'll love it as much as I do. The story itself is probably really juvenile but I kind of like it. Don't judge me. I'm new at this creative writing stuff. 

     She was cold. The sky was blue with not a cloud in the sky, but the soft breeze that blew across her naked body gave her a chill. She was not even sure how she got there. She just knew she was naked and cold, yet she was not afraid. This experience was all new to her because she did not recall experiencing anything like this before. In fact, she could not remember experiencing anything at all before this. Her mind was a clean slate.

     She stood upon a strange vessel that was sailing smoothly across a body of water, propelled by some unknown force. Her long strawberry blonde hair floated around her face softly; tickling her nose just enough to cause a slight itch but it did not disturb her peaceful demeanor. She merely brushed the wayward strand away from her face and focused on the water around her. She did not feel off-balance even though the platform was small. The edges curved up towards her and there did not seem to be a smooth, flat area for her to stand, yet she stood steadily upon it. As she sailed silently across the water, she began to take in her surroundings. Turning slowly to face behind her she saw that there was nothing crossing to the horizon, as far as her eye could see. The water was a deep shade of turquoise blue and she was unable to see the aquatic life that moved below her yet she somehow knew that it was there.

     The sun continued to warm her face as she turned back around to face what loomed ahead of her.  She could see that she was nearing the shore of a beach surrounded by luscious green foliage, the sand a warm shade of gold. As the water became shallower, the colored changed to a light shade of pale blue-green and then to her right she noticed a subtle movement. Floating just inches above the water was a winged figure carrying a woman in its arms. Blowing softly upon her, the figure was the breeze that carried the woman and her vessel steadily to the shore.  

     Having someone suddenly so near to her, the woman realized she was no longer alone and became embarrassed by her own nakedness. Not having any source of clothing nearby, she awkwardly covered herself with her hands and her long flowing hair. “Who are you,” she asked the winged man. “My purpose is only to make sure you arrive safely on the shore,” he answered.  It was then that she noticed the redheaded woman standing on the beach as though she had been waiting there all along just for her to arrive. Beautifully scented flowers began to magically trail slowly down from the sky as the nude woman arrived at the beach. As she was about to step off of her floating platform onto the beach the redheaded woman stepped forward to meet her, covering her nakedness with a beautiful red cloak and speaking to her softly said, “Welcome home Venus, Goddess of Love and Beauty. Come this way with me.”