Friday, April 16, 2010

The difference between you and me


The smell of baby powder triggers
a longing in me for
the rose petal folds
the pink promise
of my babies’ skin

The smell of baby powder triggers
a transportation back
to their rooting mouths
their nuzzling cheeks
their curling fingers

The smell of baby powder triggers
an urgent need
an ancient purpose
a sad remembering
a sweet aching

The smell of baby powder triggers
this response from you
god damn! it smells
like dirty diapers
in here

*more accurate expletive added in last stanza since poem was originally posted :0)
Today's NaPoWriMo prompt16 from readwritepoem asked us to write a poem inspired by the sense of smell. For a nicer scent-related poem about my husband, click here.

8 comments:

  1. Perspective is everything, even when it comes to smells :).

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  2. lovely and hilarious..... tabac infusion

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  3. Erin, thank you for this poem. It took me from those magical first few years to the present (15) where the reaction is more than an innocent coo. I can tell from your narrative that you've been there and done that.
    JDM

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  4. another nice one Erin...my babies still smell sweet....in their early 30s...baby smells sweet with or without powder...mmmm

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  5. Ha!! Very funny! Great pacing in this poem. Yes, that smell does bring back some primal memories for some of us, even if it brings about different reactions from others.

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  6. The repetition works great with the humorous ending. Great work!

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  7. Hi Erin,

    I'll stick with the first three stanzas, thanks!

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