My nose has always guided me br Across the roadmap of my world br From long ago when I remember br The bliss of my cream viella nightie br br An ever cautious child, I used to br Open the book of each sandwich br And sniff its contents rabbit-like br Before trusting it to my tongue br br And after dreams of bogeymen br The smell of mum beside the bed br Stroking my hair with wrinkled hands br Would always settle me softly br br Bumping in the back of the old Buick br I would ask dad to open the window br To catch the seductive smell of creosote br When the men were tarring the road br br And winter roast on Sunday morn br From slow combustion stove br With gravy brown and garlic lamb br Was always such an incentive to get out of bed! br br Summer smells of rain on dust br And fresh baked crusty bread br And homegrown roses velvet dark br that filled the house with blackberry jam br br And now though sense of smell is less acute br I hold your face between my hands br And let the powerful pheromones of you br Carry me to heaven and beyondbr br Alison Cassidybr br