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“Nothing is more memorable than a smell.

Hit a tripwire of smell, and memories explode all at once.”

Diane Ackerman

Springtime had now finally arrived in the Midwest

My heart and soul were now filled with great cheer

As I rummaged around for spring cleaning supplies

I found an old box of detergent I hadn’t seen in years

I grabbed a pail a scouring brush and this detergent

And went out back to clean my patio barbeque grill

As I absentmindedly poured water and soap into the bucket

A sudden sense of smell suddenly gave me quite a thrill

I was somehow magically transported back 50 plus years

To a tiny green backyard in the big city of my childhood

And I was now splashing about in our tiny metal kiddy pool

As I recalled how that long ago afternoon had felt so good

That’s when it slowly and eventually occurred to me

That my grandmother had always used this soap brand

And unbelievably there she was now lovingly beaming down at me

As I giggled and played on that long ago day that had been grand

Soon grandma began handing me a gigantic lilac scented towel

Tantalizing homemade sugar cookies and a glass of frosty lemonade

And right this very minute my faithful old yellow dog Tiger and I

Were romping joyfully under that old pine scented tree in the shade

Suddenly I could even smell old Tiger’s long damp fur

And the fresh flower buds that grandma was carefully tending

What a remarkable gift this old detergent had just given me

What an incredible array of sights and smells it was sending

As I delightfully watched and smelled this entire childhood scene

Which was now running like an old home movie in my mind’s eye

I found myself recalling all sorts of wonderful childhood memories

And soon several small tears of joyous remembrances did I cry

I once again picked up this old box of cleaning detergent

And proudly placed it on my home’s nostalgic memento shelf

Knowing now that whenever I want to fondly think of those days

I can simply sniff this old soap – which is truly a part of ‘my self’

I never realized this extremely old detergent was in my home

And it seems that I often receive incredible gifts from my past

I always wonder if my grandmother is still sending them to me

And I truly hope deep in my heart and soul that they’ll last

©2005, Ed Kostro