Today’s prompt, write a smell poem. There were so many directions to take this prompt. The smell of breakfast coming from Mom’s kitchen on school mornings. That new baby smell of our son and now our granddaughter that’s like no other joy. The distinct smell of each of our dogs. Even their stinkiness has its charms. But there’s a smell I’ve experienced a few times in Athens, Ohio, walking along the Hocking River in the middle of the night. The days have still felt like winter, but then there’s something in the wind, blowing down the river corridor, it hits me full in the face like a refreshing kiss. It smells like spring coming from another place, the smell, taste, and feel of this invigorates and promises warmer days ahead. This poem does not fully capture that experience, but I’ll keep working on it.

MIDNIGHT WALK

Midnight walk

Along the river.

March wind

Fills me with the

Taste and smell

Of spring.

Here’s an alternative version of the poem, written more as a haiku.

Midnight river walk

March wind

First taste of spring