-- Aromas We Cannot Smell --

­­John Herlihy

Aromas with a rare smell,

Because they have no scent.

So much they do tell,

And we know what they meant.

Those whitecaps breaking off-shore,

A smell riding the waves the winds bring.

Visions of lilies and lilacs and more,

A distinctive smell that makes the heart sing.

The color of rain invisible to see,

Blending with tree bark and emerald grass.

The scent of rain fused by nature’s beauty,

A world of freshness reflected in its glass.

The over-arching sky, the smell of its blue,

Even the ocean hangs its head in shame.

Those bluebells and bluebirds never knew,

We breathe heaven’s blue in our windowpane.

Those clouds gathering forces to release their rain,

They remember cotton, linen, and night pillows.

In a steady wind, they move on and no longer remain,

Having drenched the green threads of weeping willows.

The smell of the ocean announces itself in the air,

The rumbling surg not yet seen, but clearly heard.

The salty sea whispers its secrets as a prayer,

The ocean’s scent as powerful as the unspoken word.

Finally, imagine the exotic blessing of a rare scent,

Signaling a spiritual presence when no one is there.

We need to address the mysteries Heaven has lent,

Accept certain truths we are not otherwise aware.

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Copyright © John Herlihy

Friday 5 February 2021