Never the flowers

It was never the fragrance of flowers
but the bullies and the browning of leaves,
decay from the odor of urine and sweat;
smothered in wetness of wool — I survived;

but I grew into parties and twilight
when essenced in lilac anointed with last
night’s tobacco and beer on my collar;
returning I laughed, branded with lipstick of hers;

we aged into flickering incense of resins
while fingers tangoed in code on the keyboards
into candlelight evenings exploring together
the tannins of wine and sleekness of skin.

Now, sustaining in silvery smell of paychecks,
we wait for the evening to settle,
to sluggish sensation of blackbirds, forgetting
the past of succulent turmoil — we linger.

Still life with fruit basket and game by Frans Snyders

This is a poem I wrote for a poetry workshop a few weeks ago. This is linked to Open Link Night at dVerse that I host. We open at 9 PM CET.

Also linking up to Tuesday platform with toads
—
May 17, 2018

35 responses to “Never the flowers”

this is definitely one of my new favorites

Some really deep image in these lines. Loved it.

I like how you created these vibrant and succinct images from different stages of life. My favorite line “while fingers tangoed in code on the keyboards.” The four stanzas reminded me of the four seasons too.

I admire the sensory smells and the emotions captured by your verses Bjorn ~ That workshop was worth it basing on today’s output – it creates an impact on the reader head on ~

I love the way the different scents rise from each stanza Bjorn, and how you grow older with each stanza. Those autumn smells remind me of my schooldays and the smell of last night’s tobacco and beer remind me of my teenage years. .

Nice phrase: “branded with lipstick of hers”

‘succulent turmoil’ – Wow!

My goodness this is incredibly sensuous and mesmerizing! 💜

I love the way you associate these scents to the seasons in your life and how it is you who lingers. It sounds like an interesting workshop you attended :o)

Wow – vivid images rock this piece!

Brilliant and I am glad it got better after those horrid early smells.

I love the imagery you create with your words.

Still stinks to me …as I grew up.
Excellent picture in lines.

This is by far the most foolish piece of writing aI have seen from your hand. 🙂

Björn Rudberg (brudberg) May 18, 2018 at 09:09 · · Reply →

Appreciate your candid response, but it would be better if you can tell me why you think it’s foolish…
- Vaccinius May 22, 2018 at 23:34 · ·
  
  It is not real.

Interesting how you equate different scents to different stages in your life. The urine, beer, tobacco…branded by a lovers liptstick.

Björn Rudberg (brudberg) May 18, 2018 at 09:10 · · Reply →

This was actually the poetic challenge… to describe the different stages of your life in term of scents. It is one that I consider doing at some stages.

I love the life transitions in your poem. flowers to lilacs to resins to the smell of paychecks!!
dwight

I love how you incorporated smells with sensations here. Good one.

Your writing is thick, your verbs are heavy and expressive, and your adjectives are always surprising. I enjoy reading your writings. Keep putting pen to paper!