Olfactory Poetry
I have heard that the sense of smell is one of our most rudimentary senses,
and that it connects to our more obscured thoughts. The design of the
exercise is to have a bunch of herbs and other smelly things. And to select
one, and sit with it for a bit, and make notes on the thoughts that come to
mind. Bill brought me in some fennel, oregano, rosemary, nasturtium and
gardenia. I thought I would chose the gardenia, since they grew around our
house in Port Arthur, but no, I selected the nasturtium. (maybe this means
that I should include color with the smelly things?)
The smell took me back to a particular long childhood afternoon that lingers
for whatever reason. I was personally surprised at the pleasure I got from
just putting aside that time to be with me, and to go quietly into the
experience without the nagging sense of I really do need to get that Degree
Plan in the Mail today, and I really do need to dust, and my brother wants me
to enter some competition that has a deadline today and ... etc ...
The poetry exercise is very refreshing. It is good to permit myself to
be alone with my thoughts, and then to let the thoughts go. To study the
flower carefully and jot down my observations, the uncensored thoughts that
came to my mind. If I do them right, it is like the kind visit home I
always wish I could have.
Nasturtium
How we rush past the miracle of the nasturtium
in search of things not orange
A Nike bruises a leaf, flat and peltate
The air is filled with sweet pungence
We pause to consider
the trailing nasturtium
Nasturtium from the Middle English nasturcium,
a kind of cress, from Latin nasturtium :
perhaps nâsus, nose + tortâre, to twist
to twist the nose
And I am reminded of shady August corners
Saint Augustine grass
Caladium
water sprinklers
and time
time to decide
whether my nose is being twisted
whether I like:
That spice that mingles with that sweet smell perfumeries never mimic
the pale veiney underside of the petals
or the bright crinkled orange
orange so vibrant it dances
out
out beyond the rim of the petals
The top pair of petals are marked with maroon lines
lines that lead past orange feathering
past anthers frosted with sunshine pollen
down deep into a pale green infinity
where there is time
time to consider
Nasturtiums
Jean Emerson
August 30, 1998
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