Soporific Summers and Antonia Seaward

(800px-Hallig_Hooge,_Germany,_view_from_the_Backenswarft)

The fragrance of hazy heat that wrapped us in a warm fuzz

as we walked down my street

Roses at their fullest bloom in every garden infusing the air

with botanical incense

Memories of jam jars on my kitchen windowsill

filled with petals and home made perfume

Gifts for my grandmother, who would dab it on

her skin for our delight

The balmy smell of skin caressed by the sunshine as it mingled

with the sweetness of freshly cut grass and breeze dried washing

Giggling as we coated ourselves in coconut scented,

molasses coloured suntan oil

Trying to squeeze from the sun every last drop

of its golden elixir

Before we scrubbed ourselves with the essence of Body Shop

bought white musk or dewberry gel

Clean and cleansed, comforted and complete, cotton clad

and clean sheets

Soporific summers

(by Antonia Seaward)

Publisher of Pat's Guide to Glasgow West End; the community guide to the West End of Glasgow. Fiction and non-fiction writer.