Popsicles and Tuberoses
A fresh whiff of jasmine on the evening breeze
sends me off in paroxysms—sneeze on sneeze on sneeze.
Lilacs give me headaches, tuberoses make me ill.
Whenever dates wear aftershave, I have to take a pill.
Pinesol makes me nauseous. I’d rather smell the dirt!
And please do not use fabric softener on my favorite shirt.
I can’t believe so many folks enjoy a scented candle,
for they’re another stinky thing I simply cannot handle.
When friends bring friends to visit me, they eschew scented lotions
and tell their friends to do the same, ‘cause I have these strange notions.
What I like to smell is dill, and soil soaked by rain.
The kind of things I like to smell I’m hard-pressed to explain.
Who likes the scent of curry or cabbage in the hall?
But I admit, I like them! They don’t bother me at all.
I love the smell of Popsicles—my favorite is cherry.
It’s floral scents that I abhor, so weddings make me wary.
I hug the bride and kiss the groom, contribute to her trousseau.
But I must always hold my nose and hurry as I do so.
Orange blossoms are the worst, along with the carnation.
Even roses, I admit, are an abomination!
I really do like flowers, but only how they look.
My favorite kinds of odors are kinds that you can cook!
Chocolate cake or popcorn and hot dogs on the grill
are smells that inspire ecstasy—that certain little thrill.
Vanilla poured in pudding, bananas mashed for bread—
swirl around my nostrils and end up in my head.
Such romantic odors. What stories they do tell
of culinary orgasms and itchings they will quell.
So if you want to pleasure me, please, for heaven’s sake,
leave the flowers at the shop and simply bring me cake!
For SOCS the prompt is pop.
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 
Perfect!
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You can verify this as truth, right?
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I attest to its truth, more or less.
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This is great!
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Many thanks. Every bit of it is true…
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It must make life difficult for you Judy.
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I love this. It would speak my heart, sometimes.
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Very clever with a fun final couplet. Trousseau/ do so is wonderful
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Ha.. One of those stretched-for rhymes. I actually love them, too.
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Popsicles smell like a warm summer day from childhood to me.
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I agree. And remember Fudgsicles? Even better.
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Fudgsicles were a real treat! Those strawberry shortcake bars are the treat I found in adulthood and couldn’t believe I missed it all those years ago…
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Oh! I love this it’s so honest and and true 💜💓💓💓
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Years ago they banned perfume in libraries in Santa Cruz. I wonder how many places have done the same. I was once on an ovwerseas flight on Air India where one of the stewardesses had so much scent on that it made me ill.. and then they came up and down the aisles spraying scent as well…
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Judy, you hit it on the nail. I love the smell of food cooking and the anticipation of a good meal. Who doesn’t love popsickles? Well done.
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Thanks, Regina. We find another thing we have in common.
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Delightful. I hope it’s fiction.
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No I really am allergic to floral scents and incense. Strange but just as I typed the word I got a brief whiff of it!
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Poor you!
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