In sweetgale fumes,
there is a weight
of backpacks filled.
There’s anticipated mountain views,
at the beginning of a treck.
There is a miry softness,
in my gait,
a sound of breaking twigs,
mosquitos’ song and
far away a mumbling stream
in sweetgale scent.
There is a sound of rain
on nylon tents, the rush of rapids
and taste of cloudberries;
and there is you and me alone
in sweetgale smell.
Vistasvagge – Photo by me
Today Kelly is bartending at dVerse, and she gives us a prompt on scent. How scents can make is remember, how it brings us back. Sweetgale (Myrica gale) is a small bush that grows in mires or close to streams. It gives a very specific scent that I always connect to starting a mountain trek. Below timberline there is often that specific smell from sweetgale that just follow you. Whenever I feel it elsewhere memories of the mountains come into my mind.
—
January 5, 2015
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Reading this makes me want to go camping! Enjoyed very much!
Very evocative, Björn
A tranquil experience picture and feel you created. Lovely.
Sweet and just right, refreshing like a new start. I had to look up “sweetgale” because I was intrigued.
The smell is so very specific.. It has been used instead of hops in beer in the past…
You managed to take me there… listening, smelling, taking in the view. Lovely.
Excellent olfactory adventure, & strong poetic experience, brother. I envy you your health, & the ability to still hike in the mountains; I certainly miss that here, being surrounded by two mountain ranges.
I feel the scents and excitement of those mountain views ~ Love this adventure and kinship specially this part Bjorn:
There is a sound of rain
on nylon tents, the rush of rapids
and taste of cloudberries;
and there is you and me alone
in sweetgale smell.
Safe travels ~
You have created a poem with beautiful sensory images. I can almost smell the sweetgale from your words.
I had to look up sweetgale after reading this. So tranquil and such a quietly romantic poem.
the rush of rapids
and taste of cloudberries;
and there is you and me alone
in sweetgale smell.
Your photograph and the sweetgale made me want to be there and inhale that smell along with the smells of water and the scent of the cloudberries while they are being eaten. You did not describe those smells but still, your poem took me there. I could close my eyes and in my brain, smell – inhaling deeply. Alone in that wilderness with a love – perfection.
I don’t think I know sweetgale (although I may be familiar with its smell, just under a different name). But there is such a feeling of both yearning, anticipation and nostalgia in your poem.
You took us on your trek with you. Thank you
Love mountain views and sound of rain on nylon tents…
A great picture for a great poem. I, too, love to hike, and this piece made me think of a similar bush that grows along streams in Colorado. Thanks for the memory!
Oooh, ‘a mumbling stream’, I’m back at girl guide camp trudging through forests and walking riverbanks – wondrous
This really makes me want to go walk the Long Mynd now.
Great poem.
bravo! you’ve taken us on a perfect trek with a beautiful ending
I have never heard of sweetgale before, but your poem and explanation make me crave the scenery.
Love the redolent images in this poem 🙂
Beautifully executed.
The rhythm in this is just lovely, like a mountain trek itself. Wonderful.
Beautiful. The last two lines, especially are so delicate and tender. It is clear the smell of sweetgate is very evocative for you and redolent with sweet memories.
Now, I’m curious about that smell of the sweetgale. I love that it connects you to your mountain treks. Beautiful photo too.
The last five lines are pure magic.
Specific smells of summer hiking..brings back memories as I haven’t hike in a while..here in Washington, the scent of grasses and trees are a bit different..wildflowers and berries are, too. But the same are the scents of the gear (sense) of freedom..and the mosquitos! Excellent, Bjorn.
This was beautiful and made me want to be there. Between the scents and the sounds it felt very real to me.
ah…beautiful….you brought alive that scent…..!!
really enjoyed the journey through your memories of those hikes. I learned of the shrub too — very nice.
BTW, I think you may have a typo here : “song.and”
Indeed a little error there… thank you so much
I miss the mountains and their scents. Thanks for sharing such an evocative memory.
and there is you and me alone
in sweetgale smell.
I am not sure of the smell but, I imagine it is one that would stay with you for a long time.
Beautiful Bjorn
I have no idea what sweetgale smells like, but you took me into this memory like I was right there with you. Beautiful. Peace, Linda
The wonderlust feel of this was intensified once I read your explanation. I’d never come across sweetgale before.
The weight of your pack, the heaviness and anticipation in so many ways, that first breath of freed air….thank you for the reminder while I sit here at the kitchen table.