Memory Scents
Cigarette smoke and sweet perfume
A dab of hairspray and a slash of lipstick
Fancy powder and a dash of vanilla
Simple smells alone can be pungent
But together they formed a soft cloud
Clinging to soft sweaters,
Paired with bold jewelry.
From when I was small until
She was no longer as tall,
This combination of scents offered comfort
Whether sniffled in during a hug from a seemingly dangerous fall,
Or just briefly, though lovingly, inhaled
When changing sheets after too short a visit
This wondrous combination can’t be replicated,
Only worn by the woman vastly loved
Who responded to Grams.
A sizzle as bacon hits the pan,
The gurgle of coffee finishing it’s drip,
A half embrace from the figure at the stovetop.
A hint of cough drop,
The last remnants clicking against teeth
Worn and stained from a lifetime of delicious meals
Shared with family and friends until one evening becomes the next morning.
A hint of minty lotion
To soothe aching muscles
That telltale cough drop
And a bit of smoke
Huddled under an awning
With rain on the horizon.
How little time we get
With those we love
But their essence can appear
On a soft summer’s breeze
Reminding you so gently
Of the love you’ve always felt.
Paw Prints in the Sink 