Haystack Scenes in Scents

In Woods

Citrusy pine oils from living trees (and thick carpets of fallen needles)

Spongy, mossy humus (not to be confused with hummus)

Ferns unfurling

Footsteps on the forest floor sound like

walking on a cork surface

that's hollow underneath

Sunlight on a sawdust path

Hot shop

Sweat

from the armpits of women

and the armpits men

Melting beeswax,

wet newspapers burning dry,

soaked cherry wood steaming sweetly,

The dusty smell of fire brick

A picnic on the rocks or a dinner in the hot shop

Molten butter

and the salty sea