The scent of patchouli always brings her back to me.Her hair long, a deep brown with gray strands,Laugh lines that framed her lips,Reaching from nostrils to chin. She loved lemons and raw broccoliTogether in a salad she made for lunch,Ending with a ceremony of hibiscus teaAnd a small piece of chocolate. She went to Paris.Wrote … Continue reading The Scent of Patchouli by Kimberly Bouchard
Molasses Cookies by Susan Whiteman
Molasses. It has an unmistakable smell. A savory sweet—comforting, and old-timey. It bridges generations and molasses cookies always seem to be the right thing on a day that’s rainy or cold. When my husband and I purchased our first home---a townhome in New Jersey—it was in thebeginning stages of a new development. We were one … Continue reading Molasses Cookies by Susan Whiteman
Mother by Mary Perrin Scott
Closet door opensNew day beginsNeat row of jacketsawaits the pick of the day. Mom’s clothing hangs beforeme, mixed among my own.The smell of Downy dryer fluff,hers, not mine cominglingall pick up the smell. Slipping my arm intothe sleeve of her jacketmemories flood my mind. Red, yellow, blue, greenfrom her painted canvasto the inner closeta life … Continue reading Mother by Mary Perrin Scott
Hemlock, Sandalwood, Sage by Ron Lavalette
Today it’s hemlock smoke, orcedar and, under thin cloudsand the huge blue, I’m on ahillside, high, dreaming aboutwhat summer used to be like,how all the beautiful womenwalked up and down the beach,their brown eyes darker thantheir summered bodies, the sunnot much brighter than theirsmiles.And I remember thatonce I could smell sandalwoodor maybe it was sage … Continue reading Hemlock, Sandalwood, Sage by Ron Lavalette
Chosen Option by Sparker
this is forthose who just gotta sayor just gotta staybecause they are moved lateral, longitude; no languishingthis here, this now; this presence, this hopeprovides wings to lift the weary weight this is not something we wearno designation, but a designin time, in season, in truthwe continue to circle back this is not stuck; this is … Continue reading Chosen Option by Sparker
Nine Minutes by Phil Gallos
God knows, I tried to talk him out of it; but would he listen? Slade: my good buddy. Known him since we were toddlers, so you'd think he'd take my advice. He said my arguments “lacked credibility” because I was in love with Antoinette. Well, it's true. Yes, I was in love with her. Still … Continue reading Nine Minutes by Phil Gallos
The Bowling Widow by Ed Pontacoloni
The sirens preceded me. It was after midnight and raining when she called. “Can you come,” her voice was calm but unsure. “Alice! Why? What’s the matter?” I asked. “Please just come,” she begged and hung up. I quicklydressed, found the car keys and told the dog to go back to bed. It had been … Continue reading The Bowling Widow by Ed Pontacoloni
Haiku from Home by Mila Lonetto
Been home for a month My poems are all silly What do you expect? April poetry Coronavirus haiku Nothing else to do! Sick of foraging in the fridge, I’m out of milk Leave some on your porch? Please stay over there But smiling and eye contact are not contagious Sunlight and garden Birds sing to … Continue reading Haiku from Home by Mila Lonetto
A Very Smelly April Fool’s Prank by William Gilbert
There are certainly advantages and disadvantages of being the youngest in a family of six children; but being the only boy with five older sisters carries with it a whole host of challenges. For instance, I can honestly say I never used the single flush toilet in our three-story Victorian home until after my three … Continue reading A Very Smelly April Fool’s Prank by William Gilbert
