Montages And Memories Poem by David Whalen

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Let us put together a montage
Of aromas…In our minds

Perhaps of Juicy Fruit gum
Perfume, sweat or of Roses
Of rain on hot pavement
Of tar, surf and the Seaside
Of candies, pastries baking
Of gun smoke…and loam
And any and every other aroma that
Wafts you back home

Then add to this construct
The sense of touch:

Of textures both smooth and rough
The feel of soft skin
Breezes that caress one's face
The feel of heat and cold
The texture of silk…and lace
The hardness of marble
The warm flush of pleasure
And the cold, cold feel of steel

Now add to this assemblage
An assortment of sights:

Of Moonlight on snowdrifts
And star sprinkled skies
And the amazing innocence
In an infant's eyes
The smile on loved one's faces
The wrinkles of age…
the dimples of youth
The sight of wondrous places

Now affix to this conjured up collage
The sense of sound:

The peal of bells…of whispered sighs
Echoes in dells…and sad muffled cries
Of sudden sharp reports
The sounds of winsome song
Sawmill snores
And sniffs and snorts
That endure the whole night long
Of soft peeps of baby birds
To raucous cry of crows
The urgency in lover's plea
The passion in their words

This montage in truth
Is like an iceberg
whose bulk lies mostly ‘Neath the sea
And is both compromised
And comprised
of both truths and lies
…That we call our memory…

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