Can you smell it now?
rubbing that tough yet choosy herb
giving of it and himself.
Remembrance, perhaps
of the Spanish countryside
With tiny glistering seaviews.
Rising early, most mornings.
The sun already warming mountain-sides
before it reaches down into the valley.
The intoxicating scent of wild herbs
rolling slowly down the hillside,
telling us this, could be paradise.
Above us, the blue morning sky
beyond white walls of houses.
Still in the air, the hint of night-time’s dew.
All this sitting side by side
with a potted rosemary.
Glimpsing pure light of
sun on sea in Aotearoa.
Cover photo: Les walking the dogs near Comares, Spain
Rosemary for remembrance. And what a memory. What a lovely poem. And photo. I want to live in that white house among the wild herbs and hills.
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Thanks, Jude. Being there gave us an opportunity to see how the locals live and I got to spend time with olive growers while they were harvesting. Rosemary is a favourite herb. Les loves to press between his fingers when sitting out on the balcony having lunch or just a coffee.
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I always rub my fingers through my rosemary when I pass. It’s such a lovely smell. And when I use sprigs on top of a roasted lemon chicken and butternut squash dish the house fills with the most lovely smell.
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Yummy 🙂
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It’s so lovely how the scent of your potted rosemary can evoke the memory of your Spanish adventures.
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It was lovely, Eilene. Best of all, it made us smile.
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Delightful
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It was.
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A delightful sense of potter rosemary
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Thanks, Derrick.
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A beautiful poem, Suzanne and the picture is gorgeous!
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Thanks very much, Cathy.
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Rosemary is my favourite herb, and it smells of summer heat. I can almost feel the sun beating down on me as I read this.
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Very mediterranean and the sun just emphasises the scent even more.
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I’m always surprised by how a sudden aroma can take one back to another time and place. Your poem is lovely, Suzanne.
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Thanks very much, Sue. It surprises me too.
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Lovely memory Suz. Smell is such an evocative sense.
Mown grass always makes me feel relaxed as it evokes memories of childhood weekends with the luxury of free time to squander.
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You’re absolutely right, that mown grass does have that “relaxed” feel about it. I weirdly enjoyed mowing and especially when we had our small orchard with over 1000 olive trees to mow around.
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