11.07.2020

the smell stayed bittersweet and blue on my skin

ke pwoahn Pohnpei 
I told him as we kissed 
is that a good thing? 
he asked 
hell yea 
I wanted to say 
replaced it with another kiss 
inhaling the mix of last night’s sakau en Pohnpei  
seir en wai, sweat 
rain 
intoxicating 
taking me home 

he left that smell behind 
it would barely linger by the time 
he reached his destination 
I was headed for it 
so the smell stayed 
bittersweet and blue 
on my skin, in my hair 
I carried it with me there 
where it grew 
mixed with mangoes, 
coughs, handshakes, pigs, 
babies, and old people 

I’m back 
it now reeks 
won’t wash away 
with the other smells 
get in my car 
it hits me 
pungent remnants of the mwaramwar 
he left behind. 

[Emelihter Kihleng 'the smell', Poetry {July/August 2016}]

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