Jan Allison Poet Quintain (English)

Notes About The Poem

The Scent of Wood Smoke

I recall the scent of wood smoke which clung to my clothes
as foil wrapped potatoes were tossed into the fire,
flames danced and wisps of smoke went up my nose.
Potatoes baked to a crisp as the blaze rose higher
Dad would rake the embers for baked potatoes we’d desire

Colourful fireworks would capture our gaze
as bright rockets soared high into the sky
they'd leave a trail of stars which would amaze.
Catherine wheels spun and we’d watch sparks fly
but when bangers exploded, you'd hear me loudly cry!

One whiff of smoke, takes me back to childhood days
when our neighbourhood bonfires were so much fun
and our lives were so much simpler in so many ways
Health and safety now dictates how events are run
but my wood smoke memories can't be outdone

The scent of baking bread, the scent of clean sheets fresh off the clothes line contest
Sponsored by Sara Kendrick

3/4/18

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Randy Steele April 1, 2018 at 7:13 PM Congrats, Jan. Bonfires are awesome. So are bonfire potatoes. Well deserved win. Jan Allison April 2, 2018 at 7:10 AM Thanks Randy and the taste of baked potatoes is nothing like the ones cooked in the over!:-) hugs Jan xx

Line Gauthier March 30, 2018 at 8:15 PM Delightful poem, Jan. Congrats on your win. Well done. Jan Allison March 31, 2018 at 3:20 AM Thanks Line:-) hugs jan xx

Andrea Dietrich March 30, 2018 at 7:24 PM Jan, yours is amazingly good. You not only got in the wood smoke, but the fireworks, the wonderful potatoes and the great memories inspired by it all. Congrats on a very well deserved win. Jan Allison March 31, 2018 at 3:20 AM Thanks Andrea, glad to be on the winners list with all the other first place winners:-) hugs jan xx

Sara Kendrick March 30, 2018 at 5:03 PM A wonderful memory that you have shared with us. I don't remember mother baking potatoes on the wood fire but she talked about how her mother would do that with sweet potatoes. Thank you for your participation. I was delighted to place this one in the winners' lineup..Sara Jan Allison March 30, 2018 at 5:05 PM Thanks so much Sara, I was delighted to be on your list and have read some wonderful poems:-) hugs Jan xx

Janice Canerdy March 30, 2018 at 1:40 PM Excellent, Jan! CONGRATS on your win. Janice Jan Allison March 30, 2018 at 2:04 PM Thanks so much Janice:-) hugs Jan xx

Probir Gupta March 30, 2018 at 7:24 AM Congratulations, Jan ... so well penned scent sights and sounds ... Jan Allison March 30, 2018 at 7:34 AM Thanks Probir:-) hugs jan xx

Subimal Sinha-Roy March 30, 2018 at 1:53 AM Congratulations, Jan on your fine win. Jan Allison March 30, 2018 at 6:32 AM I think everyone got first place Subimal!:-) hugs jan xx

Mick Talbot March 30, 2018 at 1:33 AM Back to say woot, woot, congratulations on your win Jan... hugs Mick Jan Allison March 30, 2018 at 6:31 AM Thanks Mick:-) hugs jan xx

Eve Roper March 29, 2018 at 9:58 PM Congratulations on your win, Jan! Have a wonderful Easter Hugs Eve Jan Allison March 29, 2018 at 10:36 PM Thanks Eve:-) hugs Jan xx

Susan Gentry March 29, 2018 at 8:12 PM Congratulations on your win with this poem of memories! Jan Allison March 29, 2018 at 10:36 PM Thanks Susan:-) hugs Jan xx

Sandra Haight March 29, 2018 at 4:36 PM Lovely memories expressed so well in your well-written Quintain, Jan. Congratulations on your podium win! Hugs, Sandra Jan Allison March 29, 2018 at 10:36 PM Thanks Sandra:-) hugs Jan xx

Tom Cunningham March 29, 2018 at 11:54 AM Back with congratulations Jan. Tom Jan Allison March 29, 2018 at 10:35 PM Thanks Tom:-) hugs Jan xx

Lin Lane March 29, 2018 at 11:40 AM Your fond memories were well captured, Jan. And as such, they are so much more worthy than being thrust in among every entry being called a first place winner. Jan Allison March 29, 2018 at 10:35 PM Thanks Lin, I'm glad the poem was on the winners list at least it will get a little more exposure with a contest win:-) hugs Jan xx

Anne-Lise Andresen March 5, 2018 at 7:29 AM - A wonderful poem that wakes memories, Jan :) - I can almost smell it :) - Perfect for the contest, good luck :) - A pleasure to read :) - hugs //Anne-Lise :) Jan Allison March 6, 2018 at 12:52 AM Thanks so much anne-lise:-) hugs Jan xx

Vijay Pandit March 5, 2018 at 6:17 AM This poem has all the ingredients..lovely scent, sight, and sound..and memories stemming from the heart. Enjoyed reading it..best for a win, Jan. Jan Allison March 6, 2018 at 12:51 AM Thanks vijay:-) hugs Jan xx

Vladislav Raven March 4, 2018 at 9:39 PM Hi Jan, a wonderful memory from your pen. I can picture scenes from my own childhood as i read this work. Our lives were more simpler back then. This was a delight to read, a pleasure of reliving childhood. Wishing you well in the contest. have a wonderful Monday. Hugs....Mike. XX Jan Allison March 5, 2018 at 1:51 PM Thanks Mike, I think we were a lot healthier than many of the kids now and a bit of dirt and smoke didn't cause us any ill effects! Hugs Jan xx

Maurice Rigoler March 4, 2018 at 8:26 PM There are lots of woodstoves in the ares where I live, and sadly, wood smoke, affects my lungs and breathing (as does cigarette smoke). No matter, your poem was delightful to read with good flow and wonderful sight rhymes. Well done. Thanks for reading my work today. / M Jan Allison March 5, 2018 at 1:49 PM Oh I hate cigarette smokebut the scent of woodsmoke is much nicer:-) still giggling from your witty poems yesterday I had to pop by them again earlier:-) hugs Jan xx

Ilene Bauer March 4, 2018 at 3:27 PM this is amazing, jan! first of all, i can totally relate to it, even though i never had neighborhood bonfires. i love the smell of woodsmoke, however, and have eaten potatoes baked that way (the best, even if they did expode!). i, too, miss those "simpler" days... Jan Allison March 4, 2018 at 3:35 PM Oh yes they did explode lol. I can still recall the smell of them when they were unwrapped and had lashings of butter on them:-) I met up with my old ne igh our when we visited Malta about 6 years ago and again a out 3 years ago and we reminisced about our childhood and i agree with you they were simpler and i think better:-) hugs Jan xx

Carrie Richards March 4, 2018 at 2:57 PM What lovely memories, and I share this kind of experience.....around a fire binds a family . We had many campfires while I was growing up. A sweet poem, Jan! Jan Allison March 4, 2018 at 3:10 PM There were three lots of neighbours who would join together on bonfire night, now it is all organised displays and not the same at all:-( hugs Jan xx

Mick Talbot March 4, 2018 at 2:12 PM VERY evocative, good read too.Good luck in the contest... hugs Mick Jan Allison March 4, 2018 at 2:26 PM Thanks Mick, I think health and safety spoils so much of the fun we used to have:-( hugs Jan xx

Marc Acrich March 4, 2018 at 12:17 PM I enjoyed it a lot, I have a poem on my family get together all about the food I already sent you too much, another day perhaps, now im rhyming, stop you need this, its free I paid for the upgrade and I copy and paste pomes and it reads it back to me but it causes all the misspelled words http://www.gingersoftware.com/ Jan Allison March 4, 2018 at 12:45 PM Oh thanks Marc, I'm on my tablet at the mo and as pc out of action but will try that site, hugs Jan xx

Heidi Sands March 4, 2018 at 11:30 AM This was an enjoyable poem to read Jan. Such nice memories :) Jan Allison March 4, 2018 at 11:43 AM I still reminisce when I smell wood smoke and about 3 years ago I managed to meet up with one of the lads who lived next door to me and we talked about our happy childhood memories... he was my first 'boyfriend' when i was just 2 lol :-) hugs Jan xx

Arturo Michael March 4, 2018 at 11:24 AM This is sweet too...peaceful hearts soaking in life...An experience never to be forgotten... Jan Allison March 4, 2018 at 11:41 AM Thanks arturo:-) hugs Jan xx

Tom Cunningham March 4, 2018 at 11:12 AM This is a gem Jan and I'm sure it will take many back to years ago when life was more fun, now as you say bonfires can be viewed behind a fence half a mile away. Tom Jan Allison March 4, 2018 at 11:21 AM We used to no I with 2 other families and each contribute fireworks, sparklers and food. I can still recall the toffee apples my neighbour made, one year she put mint essence in the toffee and they were absolutely incredible. You can't beat the taste of a real baked potato with lashings of butter. Sadly now it's all displays and health and safety... yet there are still incidents and folk get hurt.:-( hugs Jan xx