I remember the smell…

20 smells in the memory

I remember the smell of an old photo album.

I remember the smell of alcohol and fear when the nurse came.

I remember the hot smell of the mule in the stable.

I remember the smell of the wet earth in September.

I remember the dark smell of the wardrobes in my grandparents’ house.

I remember the smell of candles and saintliness in the church.

I remember the smell of vinyl records being slipped out of their sleeves.

I remember the smell of the sea in washed-up driftwood.

I remember the smell of molten lead dropped into water.

I remember the smell of the boat when we went to Barcelona, saltpetre and fuel oil.

I remember the smell of string and cardboard in my grandfather’s storeroom.

I remember the smell of a book about the human races.

I remember the smell of pipe and sadness at my aunt and uncle’s house.

I remember the smell of an old photo album.

I remember the smell of the little grocery, food and detergent.

I remember the smell of smoke when Sebastià burned stubble at dawn.

I remember the smell of Chinatown in Palma, rust and damp.

I remember the narcotic smell of fig trees.

I remember the smell of grease and iron of an old pistol.

I remember the smell of abandoned houses.

Pep Carrió

23/03/2011