-notation-

notating that the outside atmosphere

carried with it the same fragrances
which saturated the inside;
the scent of metal and water;

the warm bread shuttled
from the ovens of the bakeries,

the significant odor of leaded gasoline
and the broader

expansion in the perfumes of the dressers;

the beaten baseball, damp from the rainfall

in the twilight of last night's game
waiting at the kitchen table;

the aromas of sweet tomato sauces
duplicated

over the cracked and weeding
tarmac of the playground, wafting
from window to window; the chalk-
dust of the afternoon's arithmetic

coating our nostrils;

the day's gatherings in close quarters
face to face; where the entries

are the links to everything,

street crossing to street crossing,

each with its atmospheric distinction

and if I have to begin someplace, I’ll begin here.

                                                 Quequechan