“Even the sea had lost its deep blue colour and, beneath the misty sky, took on the sheen of silver or iron, making it painful to look at.”

“This unlikely story begins on a sea that was a blue dream, as colorful as blue-silk stockings, and beneath a sky as blue as the irises of children's eyes.”

“First there was the sky, high, pure and of a darker blue than he had ever seen. And then there was the sea, a lighter, immensely luminous blue that reflected blue into the air, the shadows and the sails; a sea that stretched away immeasurably when the surge raised the frigate high, showing an orderly array of great crests, each three furlongs from its predecessor, and all sweeping eastwards in an even, majestic procession.”

“...a sea to intensely blue to be looked at, and a sky of purple, set with one great flaming jewel of fire...”

“Flat muscled and honey coloured. Sea secrets in his eyes. A silver raindrop in his ear.”

“My experiences remind me that it's those black clouds that make the blue skies even more beautiful.”