Kelly J Massey
The Flavor of Memories
Pines remind me of home.
Of tall green sentinels that both
welcomed and protected us
from others who wouldn’t know
where to find us.
Manure reminds me of the corrals.
Brown and dry dusty days
working the horses with lead legs
and finally shoveling their shit
into piles easily found.
Fresh-cut grass and gasoline reminds me of work.
Bright days and the brush of green
on shoes and hands from bagging
the clippings and disposing of them
so no one would have to find them.
Smells trigger these memories
and my mind and body follow them right back
to the days they were made.
My muscles remember the load and my face
remembers the smile.
