Childhood’s Sweet Nostalgia

My childhood overflowed with treasured
Memories of sounds, smells, and tastes
Bringing me back to that day, that hour,
That minute of bliss.

1

These are the sounds I loved so long ago:

Kittens with tiny pink mouths mewing
In the hayloft of my grandparents’ farm.

Water bubbling over pebbles in the cool brook
On a scorching summer day.

A chickadee’s call ending in dee, dee, dee
As it darts from limb to limb in an old pine tree.

Ice skate blades carving the coarse ice
On a day of bitter biting wind.

Mendelssohn’s Violin music
Filling the living room with breathless dancing air.

Elvis Presley crooning “Love Me Tender”
Creating wishes and dreams.

Uncle Aaron’s voice declaring,
“You are my favorite child!”

2

These are the scents I loved so long ago:

The pungent scent of an evergreen forest after rain,
Refreshing and soothing fears.

New mown hay drying in the sun,
Making me want to rake a giant pile and hurdle in.

Freshly-turned garden earth planted with tiny seeds
Waiting for warmth and rain to make a rainbow of blooms.

The perfume of drying lavender blossoms
Lifting spirits and relieving worry.

Red geraniums oozing lovely aroma in a clay pot on a front porch
Saying, “Welcome to my home.”

Fresh cut parsley smelling luscious on a kitchen counter
Meaning tasty food appearing soon.

Crushed cardamom scent in pastry
Wafting from the oven causing mouths to water.

The close your eyes fragrance of Jergen’s Lotion
Calming rough skin and relaxing nerves.

The smell of the library, shelves stuffed with books,
Waiting to inspire, intrigue, and instruct.

The soapy scent of the shirt collar of a partner
Swaying to a slow dance at a record hop.

3

These are the tastes I loved so long ago:

Egg salad sandwiches with lettuce on white bread,
Crunchy and creamy, so comforting.

A steamy plate of spaghetti with meat sauce,
Tangy goodness to savor.

Pancakes, silver dollar size, dripping with maple syrup—
Did I really eat fifteen?

Blueberry pie made from home-grown blueberries
Making tongues blue and mouths watering for another piece.

Ginger peach tea in a tall glass with ice,
Stimulating on a sizzling summer day.

Fresh donuts, raised and glazed,
A gooey confection, melting in mouths.

Cotton candy, pink puffs of pure pleasure
Sticking to fingers on a sunny day at the county fair.

Strawberry ice cream cones, double dips
Dripping down chins and t-shirts, cooling sweaty faces.