Laurentine G Poet Ekphrasis

The Three Perfumes

I wish to breathe in ~
      lose myself, as my head tilts back
    and I fill with fragrance 

         be lost upon lost, flowing, fleeing
    invisibly within layers, locked in

          bound to perfumed memories
       that I return to unaccompanied 
  a ghost within their harmless essence 

    you are one deep inhalation away
  I stop before my lungs are full
      still able to tell dreams from reality

        I hold three thoughts 
      three notes that detail my existence 
   I am the rose, delphinium blue & lily white

evaporative unless curated
   an apparition, unheld, unholdable
  recalled only to mind 

      redolent and intoxicated
         by lingering base notes
    unforgettable 
but distinguished by the fact
          you remain 
                      the unforgiven 


Inspired by The Three Perfumes by Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh

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Ink Empress June 2, 2026 at 10:54 AM Dear LG, This is just beautiful! And so touching especially the ending stood out the most for me! As someone who loves showering myself with perfumes, I cant help but smell something mystical and artistic here! The artwork that inspired you is also stunning! As purple is my favorite color! And the hues of lilacs makes me want to own the artpiece! And if ever, with this poem definitely at the back etched in red! I just realized i used intoxicated in my last line too! Coincidental ofcourse! I would like this for tshrt business tho “ unforgettable but distinguished by the fact you remain the unforgiven ” FAVE! BOL Laurentine G June 2, 2026 at 11:30 AM I'm not actually big on perfume, but certainly experienced the pull into a memory when inhaling some! I tried to capture that willing fall into a memory then a snatch back out when it got too comfortable lol it's a beautiful painting though! Ha I definitely don't own the word intoxicated - funny when we coincidentally pick the same words - I remember that time we had about 9 of the same unusual words without having seen each others poem :D

Daniel Henry Rodgers June 2, 2026 at 6:24 AM Dear Laurentine, such an intoxicating, dreamlike pull right up until that sharp, visceral sting at the very end. Gorgeous, sensory of fragrance and memory, only to pull back the curtain and reveal a stark emotional boundary. The floral triad of the rose, delphinium blue, and lily white creates a beautiful, fragile portrait of identity, which makes the final stanza hit even harder. I liked how you didn't let the poem dissolve into easy sentimentality, you gave it teeth. What a haunting, beautifully curated piece. Blessings, Daniel Laurentine G June 2, 2026 at 10:27 AM Thank you Daniel - I hadn't been aware that Mrs Mackintosh was an artist and found this artwork spellbinding! Thank you for your kind analysis and close reading of my poem - I try to step right inside when I can :)

Beryl Edmonds June 1, 2026 at 4:45 AM That’s a lovely Ekphrasis poem on the painting ‘Three Perfumes’ three is never enough for me, love it… Beryl Laurentine G June 1, 2026 at 1:32 PM Thank you Beryl, I hadn't heard of the artist before but the painting is so pretty! Thank you for stopping by, appreciated :)

Paige Hind June 1, 2026 at 1:44 AM this is beautiful- perfumes are always unforgiven...either short of long lives... Laurentine G June 1, 2026 at 1:32 PM Thank you Paige :)