lost in memories again

in how words and art cannot pull the true power of the emotion out because it is so much more than a word or painting

fermented and impacted by all senses

touch

aural

olfactory

chemically

mentally

culminating in emotionally

the first greeting

punctuated with a spike in adrenaline

etching the moment for posterity sake in the vault of importance

carving a monument that will withstand the inevitable decay of time

the sunlight playing off her hair

the glint in her eye, curve of her neck, half formed smile

the same smile that always brings memories of sunlight and pugnent rubber and vinyl and foot smell of the bounce house

both of us standing and watching them play

lost in the pure innocence of the act

drawn back to similar memories

twisting the chain on the swing tighter and tighter

spinning

falling out of the swing into the gravel and stumbling to the grass

triumphant and sick

of racing in the cool autumn air down the street

excitement made electric by the crisp wind

your friend’s older brother delivered and you find the twelve pack sitting in the snow

thirteen and very winded from the run guzzling this horrid concoction

dizzy and stumbling towards the grass

and you look up

your friends rolling in the ground in sudden inebriated debauchery

and see her

the wind has that metallic taste that means it is going to snow soon

the alcohol has you flushed and warm and fuzzy

and emboldened

so you offer the fair maiden a beverage

soon the three have become six minus your two who have curfew

in the now awkward tipsy moment her friends scuttle away into the dark and the six become four become two

and it smells like halloween

halloween smells like plastic masks and the promise of snow

it smells like anticipation because your birthday is the next day

it tastes like cheap bargain candies you only get once a year

peanut butter and discount chocolate

more wax than cocoa

but it feels like halloween as you stare into her eyes

the promise

the unknown

and she comes close and kisses you

cherry lip balm

waxy hints of cherry and mint to cover the beer

the wind picks up and an empty can dances in freedom

you are hugging

her hair smells like burning leaves and citrus

like home and the promise of paradise combined at the molecular level

another

sustained kiss

empowered with need

lowered inhibitions

and clumsy inexperience

she giggles and pulls away

looks away blushing and says bye and vanishes into the night

you never got her name

but as you crack open the last beer and shiver from the cold and delight

that first ice cold sip was her lips

stumble home and put on some music to drift away on the lips of halloween

and as you hug the one here

now

and she smells of heat and roses

while you flash to the leaves and citrus and the mystery girl with cherry lips and minty breath

but now there are hints of honeysuckle

wafts of ginger and clove

that perfume she wore on her wrists knowing at some point i would kiss her fingers and catch a sniff

i was happiest when that perfume was all she wore

nothing but a dab on each wrist and a smile with promises of more

she programmed me with scent

and when she figured out a little on her ankles was effective

or how another always leaned and kissed me while blowing her hit into my mouth

not just tasting her but breathing her in

still signals a response when i watch a lady smoke

just lost in memories

wishing there was a way to express them

share them fully

explain the desire inherent on memory

to kiss those lips like halloween once again