Last week at South Loop Poetry Club, we finished our Senses chapter by talking about scents. A lot of poetry, and a lot of humanity, does not acknowledge scent except as supplement, especially to our distinct level of taste. So to write some smell-focused poetry took a lot of brain power and creativity! To inspire us, we read a very somber “I Know Your Scent” by Ricardo Alexio, and took turns reading the serious poem among the group to emphasize the repetition. We discussed using scent as something to ground us in the world, but also to play with it figuratively and conceptually. So without further ado, please enjoy our serious and un-serious, physical and metaphysical, smelly, smelly poems!
South Loop Poetry Club
hiver
By Cole C.
The migrants
they are moving
I always smell
a bitter cold in the air
They gone in a bus
It drove away
Their last scent
Was trembling
to them
hiver was a come
There are
Thousands of Migrants
They smelled
like a love
like romance
so much abide
I want to wish
them a good
season
but the bus ran off
War
By George M.
The smell of fire from a burning of a tank
The Blood is another smell
and fuel running in the tank
War
By Zachary G.
I know it by its smell
Battle/
The smell of oil, smoke and metal
In the air/
I know it by the smell of
Bravery, Battle
The cold days/
I know you by the Bravery
day after day
after day/
war
MADDNESS!
By Annabel G.
I know you by the smell of hatred.
I know you by the smell of maddness
I know you by the smell of fury.
I know you by the smell of darkness.
I know you by the smell of your
colorless picture.
I HATE YOU!
I hear something
There is nothing going on just something
in my head
Just a ringing in my ear but I am full of
fear
The darkness int he room is creeping me
out, but I know it is just my head.
I Know You
By Audrey C.
I know you by the love
and hate you give / I know
you by your scent of good
and bad you have / I know you
by your peace and darkness /
I know you by your kindness
and badness you make.
CHICKENS
By Whitman G.
I know your smell by chickens
I know you by chickens
I know you by the poop
The wildness
I know you by the chickens
The wildness and craziness
I know you by the chickens
I know you by the chickens.
Snakes vs Chickens
By Oliver G.
Hey! Kanye West listen up.
Boy I know the smell of
Love never smelled it on you, though.
You call people snakes
You smell worse than
snakes! You smell like
dirt! If Taylor
Swift’s a snake then
Are you ready for it?
I see you in a
Barn ya chicken!
cluck cluck
Paris
By Mia P.
When I think of Paris /
Love, Joy.
I smell love in the air.
People holding hands.
When I think of Paris /
bread, butter.
A tasty, buttery, french baguette.
When I thin kof Paris /
Eiffel tower.
Metal, excitement.
The lights / blinding.
Tall, pretty.
When I think of Paris
My Closest Friend
By Navi R.
I know you by the scent of love, care,
and kindness / I know you by the scent of
Knowledge / I know you by the scent of panclas,
and chocolate / I know you by the scent of
the delicious food you make / I know you
by the scent of hardwork and your best.
My Moooooooooomyyyyy!
My BFFL
By Morgan F.
I know you / Navi By the smell of
Kindness, love, friendship. I know you/ Navi
by the smell of Careness, Ramen, love
I know you by the smell of Cuteness,
funnyness, and being naturally bubbly.
I know you by The change you
make to the world.
My BFFL NAViiiii!
P.S. And that’s 5 o’s in counting
(im sooo flattered!)
