A Whiff of Carbolic

I sniff at my hands and oh!
Such scent, such ecstasy,
a memory presented to my nose.
But where do we find this block of adorable redness?

It was sold in every shop: lovable carbolic soap,
an aromatic compound, so ruddy, so redolent.
But this is now so rare; it merely
presents itself to my pleading mind -

a psyche that puts forth its arms,
a plea to a storehouse of valuable memory,
a whiff of an echo, an echo of an odour,
an odour that's been sent.

So who remembers, recalls a soap that's not
so round, bright pink, cream, blue or white,
that isn't sold in pretty-pretty paper?
We do so wish to sniff, sniff, sniff at an odour that's so old.

(3 Oct 2023)
Copyright © | Year Posted 2023

Poem

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Bowring Avatar
October 4, 2023 at 3:42 AM
A lovely, reminiscence poem Andrew of past memories and scents of yesterday’s. I’ve just asked my darling mum and she remembers it. She says it was good for your skin! Really enjoyed your poem - well written.Thank you for sharing. Smiles to you :)
John Avatar
October 4, 2023 at 7:01 AM
Thank you for comment, Christina.
Baker Avatar
October 3, 2023 at 4:06 PM
Intriguing thoughts on soap, Andrew. Thanks for sharing your thoughts through your poetry, my friend. Bill
John Avatar
October 4, 2023 at 7:01 AM
Thanks you for comment, Bill.
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