The scent of burning
wood holds
the strongest memory.
Mesquite, cedar,
piñon, juniper,
all are distinct.
Mesquite is dry
desert air and mild winter.
Cedar and piñon are
colder places.
Winter air in our
hair is pulled away,
and scent of smoke
settles in its place.
We walk around the
rest of the day
with the aroma
resting on our shoulders.
The sweet smell holds
the strongest memory.
We stand around the fire.
The sound of the
crackle of wood and spark
is ephemeral.
Smoke, like memories,
permeates our hair,
our clothing, our
layers of skin.
The smoke travels
deep
to the seat of
memory.
We walk away from the
fire;
no matter how far we
walk,
we carry this scent
with us.
New York City,
France, Germany—
we catch the scent of
burning wood;
we are brought home.
Ofelia Zepeda
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