Smell and Memory

I’ve been reading Kyle Vaughn’s Lightning Paths: 75 Poetry Writing Exercises, (available on Amazon, linked on title or here on NCTE), which inspired me to delve into another book study of poetry forms and responses. I’ll be making my way through the exercises and prompts between now and the end of the year.

Today’s writing exercise focuses on smell and memory – the most connected sense to remembering the past. Vaughn encourages writers to explore the sense of smell connected to a memory in the writing.

Her Charm Bracelet

Mom's Estee Lauder lingers
even now, 7 years later
in my closet 
     on her scarves I kept
in her mirrored box
    lined with burgundy velvet
      where her charm bracelet rests
          jingles when I need to hear her here
             next to me

I breathe in, smell her presence
    hold her here

    then exhale, 
                                  release
knowing everything will be okay