bottles, vellum, twine, smells

variable dimensions

2020

Seeking language to describe the smells of a walk along Hodgeman’s beach and through the forest in the north woods of Maine.  Capturing these in bottles gathered from a hidden trash heap behind Burnt Cabin beach

fragrant stewing tea of pollen dusted, too-warm lake water

chalky dry bones from moose skeleton, laced with new moss 

crisp metallic air from shady cove on the lake

piercing deep purple spice of decaying leaves and pine cone litter on the forest floor

muscular, fleshy smell of mushrooms swarming on a rotting log

stinging toxic bite of creosote on the railroad tracks

high-pitched, powdery, sweet scent of old-growth fir tree bark

zesty tart essence of crushed blueberry leaves

sweet licorice, stainless steel grey lacy tapestry of falling rain

soapy scent of ancient bark lichen blooming brittle blue white

smell of white pine sap, like the peppery yellow sting of a rubber band snapping against skin

intoxicating perfume of raspberries in the sun, a drunken, floral fog

queasy acidic tartness of bug spray on sweaty skin

peeling apart layers of fallen birch bark, its light blue ache, paper thin sweetness 

soft amber, musty, sneezy odor of fallen white pine needles underfoot

dusty, salty, iron rust of hot sand, like fingernails on a chalkboard

loamy, emerald glowing pelt of moss, reticent and barely fragrant

ribbons of drunken, syrupy flannel campfire breath

viscous, rancid heaviness of river muck, cloying like a too-rich dessert

juicy, pungent green tang of balsam fir needles, redolent of Christmas nostalgia

sickly coconut-scented greasy smell of sun lotion

rancid vinegary stink of dead perch on the shoreline

velvety buttery honeysuckle warm odor of chanterelle mushrooms in the dry river bed