Best Odors Poems
They are lined up along the long hallways
wheelchairs protruding, blocking the corridors.
The aroma of antiseptic spray attempts to mask
the pungent smell of body odors.
The loud blare of the big screen TV
reverberates from the empty day room,
while medical staff busily sort paperwork
behind the sterile counter tops.
Each ancient face, each frail body
huddled beneath their blankets
reflect a unique history, a life story
that is waning with the passage of time.
Men and women, now trapped within their
weakened bodies, once vibrant and strong
now confined and consigned to wait
away from the public eye, burning daylight.
Written on 4/28/2015
Categories:
odors, age, time,
Form:
Free verse
I love the night,
wandering in wide tranquil countryside,
in the dim light of the pinhead stars,
with their intricate constellations,
a nocturnal symphony that helps give directions
to wayward hitchhikers that roam in off course pathways.
I love the night,
imbibing the perfumes of the ambrosial countryside.
The newly cut hay, the wayside fragrant flowers,
all covered with a fine dew
spreading delicate exquisite odors in country meadows.
I love the night.
In the open vistas,
where all daily cares just fade away,
like wispy steam from a far off train.
A soft music can be heard behind thick hedges,
but be aware, think not of the ugly resonance
that go bump in the night.
I love the night.
The winking owls hoot in lament,
grasshoppers sing in close-mouthed consent,
soggy frogs give an occasional harsh croak,
but birds sleep happily on lofty trees.
Isn't it a wonderful place to be?
Thank you, God for providing me the night.
Categories:
odors, night,
Form:
Free verse
Shallow edged with twigs, and sodden leaves
The odors of the earth, green moss and peat
The roots of quiet trees and rotting logs
The crumbling bank where cattails wash their feet
Where tiny minnows dart with lightning speed
Among the roots where wild ducks come to feed
The very core and essence of the earth
Born of melted snow, and sleet and rain
Of birds who roost amid the tree tops high
And breathe the wholesome fragrance of the sky
Trees that sway and swoon along the bank
Shedding leaves of amber, rust and gold
Like ashes left from burning autumn dreams
To listen, standing guard on either flank
O'er twig and stone, with watchful eyes so keen
While shading coves where angler poles have been
Across it's face, a restless ripple seen
Where tangled grass and weeping willows lean
Upon the shores where struggles soon will cease
This place to spend in nature's splendid peace
Categories:
odors, natureautumn,
Form:
Free verse
I listened for the rain,
it emerged slowly now and again
from a crepuscular caliginus sky,
the tenebrous mist that trickled down lightly in the by and by
as if they were drops of salted tears
shed by an unseen entity's fears;
it was the dream that seemed far away
to hover throughout the day
with scattered light cool breezes
beating and flushing the tree leaves into the eaves,
spitting, spewing, snaking, swirling for all to see
stretching just above the distant canopies;
for once the weather predictions were spot on,
it remained overhead for three days within the briar
each day more intense than the prior,
no reprieves as it fell west to east
and cycled back again from the ocean to land to feast
on shorelines, forests and homes as if a wild, relentless beast;
the drops were big and cold
chilled by some northeast winter's scold
quiet then loud drumming on every roof,
streams and puddles formed aloof
into places where footsteps once abound,
the earthy musk odors rising from the ground,
now the lush grass rolled over
patted down the pelted clover
bowing in submission to the stormy drover;
I heard its' tumultuous cry
rocking, pitching while on the fly
without a whisper or a word before it died,
I heard it,
the rain sighed.
Categories:
odors, analogy, rain,
Form:
Rhyme
Her death STARING me down
Staring. . .
Her drooping eyes dangling low
Warm blood
COLD blood!
Don’t come any nearer!
I told you to leave!
You killed them all, one by one
I did it for you!
DON’T BLAME ME FOR LOVING YOU!
Give me a kiss. . .stay quiet
NO! Tell me it’s a lie
. . .
This must be a nightmare
The nightmare ends here—I swear
Hold me close and we’ll comfort each other
While they pass by
You’ll be safe, unharmed
And then you can run, you beautiful soul
It’s too late to run, remember?
I lied
There’s still a way out
You’re only giving me a shred of hope
Hope. . .
So you can tear it all down
Tear them all down. . .
We’re together. . .just you and me, And Nobody
I’m scared of you
What’s new?
Use me to save you
You were built to destroy
To CHASE
Run. . .run. . .I beg you to run
I’m not going anywhere
The pain has just begun
Hide. . .hide. . .they’re coming inside
Let them come
I’ll never say goodbye
You left me with Nobody
And Nobody is me
So I’m stuck with you and you’re stuck with me
I want you to go over there
Don’t look—turn around
They will enter me and you will see The Nobody
I’m not scared of Nobody
YES YOU ARE. . .
Run. . .run. . .please run. . .
No I’m not
Bodily odors and sulfur
Blood and oath—SUFFER!
Categories:
odors, angst, confusion, depression, me,
Form:
Free verse
A brindled mountain capped with snow,
hosts paradise in its shadow.
And moss clings to the virgin rock
on ancient roosts where seabirds flock.
White waters teach Brooks how to sing
with the tinkling pitch bubbles bring.
And chuckle with a gurgling sound,
laughing out loud where rocks abound.
Gushing rivulets, spray, and twist,
morphing into a sparkling mist.
And wildflowers, living jewels,
are mirrored in reflecting pools.
Light and dark play with skittish leaves,
chasing applause; each breeze receives.
And subtle odors scent the air
with a fragrance beyond compare.
In this secluded place on Earth,
Serenity reveals its worth.
For utopia resides here,
tranquil, with no humans to fear.
Categories:
odors, beautiful, environment, imagery, imagination,
Form:
Rhyme
Bony knuckles raking gloomy halls
Chambers echoing fate’s footfalls
Slumping shoulders and deathly grins
Recounting on fingers, countless sins
Shuddering, shivering in godless fears
Admonishing my guilt, the end, it nears
Cowering in silence, holding my breath
Smelling foul odors of impending death
Grasping and groveling a final chance
Embracing, mating, in fatal romance
Facing my fears in a sorrowful stare
Fingertips gracing my tendrils of hair
Ghastly screams erupt pouting lip
Into the darkness my soul does slip
Categories:
odors, dark, death, destiny, fate,
Form:
Rhyme
The eve of darkness they come out to play
creepy crawly with our senses. The street
wise, the waifs, the tiny cherubs all blend
together to form a society of sorts that is
out of step with time; they become invisible.
They come with their drums, their guitars to
serenade the unseeing humans in tourist
tee shirts. You can see the beauty of
this youth who dances and plays from a
heart that just needs freedom.
You look into their eyes and you fall in
love with the innocence of a child who
sees his place in time as cosmic.
You smell their odors, their very essence.
A not so spent youth and you wish you were they.
You find yourself being pulled in by
their ethereal nectar and song...you see
for the first time what you could of had.
You are pulled in and the fight leaves you
the unseeing being the unseen...welcome!
*My impressions of the homeless youths of Ocean Beach, San Diego
Categories:
odors, adventure, allusion, beautiful, environment,
Form:
Free verse
Likened to a beast of burden
I groan with back breaking strain
weary laden and fraught with pain
working mightily in vain
under this black powder rain.
‘Tween strife, sweat and stain
I pour out my waning strength
time drags on for hours at length
while black powder keeps a'raining
down on me.
For lo’ my weary, calloused hands
are ever searching for black gold
a toilsome task to mine and claim
dark riches from hardened veins
as I labor under black powder rain.
Buried in a pit of purgatory
I hear the clangs and cries
picks and axes, unrelenting
grit and odors, foul, stagnanting
low bending, beneath this
ominous black powder rain.
As I suffocate in darkness
I hear sorrow's sad refrain
ringing loud and all around me
as I beat earth's unyielding crust
trapped in god forsaken dust
slowly drowning, underneath
this black powder rain.
Written on 11/8/2018
Categories:
odors, life, work,
Form:
Free verse
IT REEKS ANEW
by
JOHN M. ARRIBAS
When a Cow Defecates Onto the Grazing Field
There Is a Stench, That All Miasmic Odors Yield
But Given Some Time the Weathering Will Seal
And the Original Discomfort Becomes a non Deal
However, If the Deposit Is Stirred, the Odors Return
Leaving Old Conflicts Alone, a Lesson to Learn
We Have Disputes, Arguments Causing Unrest
But If Finally Resolved, Passing Times Test
However, If the Event Is Later Resurrected
Resentments Return, Peace Becomes Unprotected
If You Find a Bear Sound Asleep and Undisturbed
Poke Him? Dead Events Should Remain Interred
Categories:
odors, analogy, friendship, judgement, mentor,
Form:
Rhyme
I love the night,
wandering in wide tranquil countryside,
in the dim light of the pinhead stars,
with their intricate constellations,
a nocturnal symphony that helps give directions
to wayward hitch hikers that roam in off course pathways.
I love the night,
imbibing the perfumes of the ambrosial countryside.
The newly cut hay, the wayside fragrant flowers,
all covered with a fine dew
spreading delicate exquisite odors in country meadows.
I love the night.
In the open vistas,
where all daily cares just fade away,
like wispy steam from a far off train.
A piece of soft music can be heard behind thick hedges,
but be aware, think not of the ugly resonance
that go bump in the night.
I love the night.
The winking owls hoot in lament,
grasshoppers sing in close-mouthed consent,
soggy frogs give an occasional harsh croak,
but birds sleep happily on lofty trees.
Isn't it a wonderful place to be?
Thank you God for providing me the night.
Categories:
odors, night,
Form:
Free verse
Lush vales wedged between rolling foot hills
rugged mountain streams course through ancient vales;
water rapids breach rocks down on the dells,
vagrant pools wander out through worn edges.
Vivid odors punctuate water veins,
ripe with fertile grass, fruit and berry bogs.
Pristine secluded swamps, log aquilines
echoing native sounds, murmuring frogs.
Katydids call out a lusty affair,
as dusk settles to a vibrating night.
Fireflies flicker perfuming the air;
wild eyes reflecting moon lit flight.
Categories:
odors, nature
Form:
Iambic Pentameter
It being a holiday, with friends, I went to chill out
In a gregarious company, partying was sheer fun
After a heavy booze, my first-time experience,
I fell flat, plunging into deep sleep and dreaming away
In my dream, I sailed away
Over the tame waters of a tranquil bay
And landed in a magic isle
Never set foot before by anyone alive
A pleasant retreat of birds and beasts
Far removed from world’s dust and heat
A tropical island with a magical spell
Hidden away at Nature’s veiled breast
The sky was rent with songs of birds
The air, smelling of odors sweet
Here and there were exotic blooms
Bird of Paradise, Plumeria and jasmine
I roamed frivolously from end to end
Of that enchanted land of idyllic charm
With twining creepers and tall growing grass
Proclaiming aloud of a perennial spring
My heart leaped in euphoric delight
My senses alerted in ecstatic thrill
My feet moved in an explorer’s gait
After the treasures stashed in its caverns deep
I rambled relentlessly through untrodden paths
Feasting on the marvels, my eyes could catch
Arching trees framing a leafy roof
And fruits, ripe and raw, hanging from every bough
As Nature, thus unveiled her bounty before,
My fancy, unfettered took to wings.
I loved my sway over that fairy land
With treasures galore that none could claim
But how suddenly loomed an unwelcome thought
That dampened my spirits and stole my joy
“Will I ever be able to see my folks
To be enmeshed once more in a warm embrace”?
Longingly I looked for a ship skimming the sea
To carry me back to my native land
To get united with all my loved ones
To live a life ever, as lived before
Like a marooned sailor, desperate, as I cried
To alert the ship that sailed away
I heard distinct my husband’s anxious query
“Darling, what made you scream so loud”???
Categories:
odors, appreciation, confusion, dream, nature,
Form:
Free verse
beneath serene and reflective night skies
gentle feelings silence each tear, each fear,
breathing in smoldering dreams who arise
rustles of stillness, spark a soft prayer.
glowing faintly beneath the moonlit night,
flames enchanting, silencing the sad sighs,
warm odors tempt the eager appetite
along the camp’s edge, before the fire dies.
stars like glitter stand in the softest clouds,
caressing heaven with easy refrains,
love getting away from the noise, the crowds,
where relaxation is all that remains.
scents of the back woods fill the heart and soul
with a tenderness that’ll make the life whole
Categories:
odors, moon, nature, night, stars,
Form:
Sonnet
Here are a few safety tips that will help keep you & your family ssafe
When in doubt, throw it out: Throw out foods with danger-signaling odors. But be aware that most food poisoning bacteria are odorless, colorless and tasteless. Do not even waste a food that is suspect.
Use separate cutting boards for meat and poultry: Don’t use wooden cutting boards. Bacteria can live in the grooves. Sterilize cutting boards in the dishwasher. Consider buying separate colors for meat and fresh foods like veggis and bread.
Wash and disinfect sponges and towels regularly: Launder in a bleach solution.
Avoid cross-combination by washing all surfaces (including your hands) that have been in contact with raw meats, poultry or eggs.
Thaw meats or poultry in the refrigerator, not in the kitchen counter: If you must thaw foods quickly, use cool running water or the microwave
Do not put food on a plate that was used for raw meat or poultry: If you bring your raw steaks, chicken, or burgers to the grill on a platter, get a fresh platter for a final product
Mix foods with utensils, not your hands: Keep hands and utensils away from your mouth, nose and hair
Categories:
odors, food, people,
Form:
List