There's a sense I should rely on
my useful ability to sniff
our noses can teach us much
if we would just take a whiff
The messages in certain smells
both the vile and very nice
I like how nice ones linger on
while nasties are gone in a thrice
But on the subject of trusting
our noses always know
who can and who can't be
and to me will always show
when I met my forever him
he was a lovely scented bloke
of minty breath and Aqua Velva
and leathery tobacco smoke
I've an addiction to smelling
and to that I must fess up
I study men's odors and read them
like tea leaves in a cup
I judge a man by his fragrance
can't help this kneejerk habit
it's not his cologne nor perfume
those just confuse or disquise it
there is a je ne sais quoi in
how the air smells around him
I can't explain how nor why
it's vague but not a whim
Some smell in ways that feel
like a cozy, safe protector
of campfire, printer's ink or toast
or a Super 8 movie projector
Lake Michigan beach scents
of sun and sand and pine
I trust Gitche Gumee with secrets
I know that she'll keep mine
But then some smell of things
that hit memory blindside
Old Spice, Basic H, Shaklee Vita-C
And I want to run and hide
it sounds superstitious, I know
my horoscope of smells
but my nose is uncannily
accurate about what it foretells
morning coffee and Coast soap
and his Aqua Velva blue
Say he's kindly and cares
if not he'll reek of that too
it's not a stink exactly
but it's potent just the same
it jars me to places most scary
too scary to give a name
bullies give off in their smells
a loud danger pheromone
warning me to get out
and leave them very much alone
like a snake's marking tells
if he sports red against black
he's not a safe fellow
you should stay away from Jack
My ken goes below human sense
this instinctive alarm in me
I guess like a dog I'm wired
when scent-sirens sound to flee
Then some smells misled me
Made me think I could trust
Jean Nate and Avon Lilac
found too late they were bust
I didn't heed them before
much to my hurt and dismay
I didn't run when I should have
I was taught to heel and stay
But I'm learning to scent read
the writing on the wall
to get to safer high ground
before the levies fall
The safe scents were there
But I didn't trust what I should
not that I even knew how
or that I actually could
So I'm learning to smell
peace in the coffee can
to trust the toast and toothpaste
and the Aqua Velva Man
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