OctPoWriMo Day 8

They say scent is the most powerful of our senses. Even the slightest hint of an aroma can trigger intense memories. Each time I smell roasted peppers, I’m instantly transported back into my grandmother’s kitchen. It fills me with happiness. If I get a whiff of a particular perfume, memories of my mother instantly fill my head. Scent and memory are forever linked.

Sometimes the way something smells has the opposite effect. Some odors can make you physically ill or pull forth unpleasant memories. What’s the first thing you think of when someone mentions a skunk or rotting garbage? You don’t have to experience the event first hand for it to elicit a strong reaction.

photo: Pinterest

Which sent triggers your most powerful memory? What images come to mind? Capture the feeling in your poem.

Word Prompts:

evoke

trigger

sweet

sour

transfixed

transcend

embody

Suggested poetry forms: Freeverse or Sonnet

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions, you can find your inspiration wherever your muse leads you. Please visit the other participants, share the hashtag, #OctPoWriMo on social media, and share your link in the comments below. Let us know how this journey into poetry is going for you and if this is your first year or if you have been with us from the beginning.

Michele Vecchitto is a writer and former middle school teacher.  Her poetry has been published in literary journals and anthologies as well as in three self-published volumes. Michele read her poems at the Austin International Poetry Festival and was honored to be included in When Time and Space Conspire. 

You can read more of her work on her blog -

Writing and Reflections