That Scent…

The fragrance of the lives of those we cherish. By Eros Rises

One of my most precious senses is smell. I just love to feel deep down in my soul all the everyday scents. 

From the best brand fragrance in a beautiful scented bottle, to the sea breeze, a just out of the oven baked cake, the smell from hot and fresh bread, the unique scent of Autumn charcoaled chestnuts around the streets of Lisbon, the smell of fresh cleaned linen… Well, an assortment of smells that I just LOVE and am addicted to.      

However, there has always been a unique scent that stands out from the others, the scent of my Mother.

It’s not the perfume that my mother wears, but all the smells that embody her… It’s the mixture of her perfume, her body lotion, her shampoo, her fruity chewing gum, her lip gloss, her skin, per se. All these smells blend together in one unique and peerless smell, the smell of my Mother. A scent that comforts and warms us up. Our Save Harbour… 

Today, I feel a new but unequalled smell, the scent of my Son… A bundle of innocence, purity, sweetness, love, dependence, dedication, devotion smells…

Hmmmmmmmm… What a wonderful scent, this of my Son!  

 

By Inês Marques

Translation by Lúcia Catarino

Reviews

[Echoes of Eros]

There is something so lifting here that captures the essence of those we love. A fragrant scent can connect us to a powerful memory, and the scent of a child or mother can awaken a sense of joy, peace, or a love so profoundly moving. Your daughter's poetry captures a glimpse of this so perfectly, as does your brilliant translation! (Would love to see it in the original language as well... :)

[Lúcia]

Thank you so very, very much for your kind words, Eros. You too caught the true meaning of my daughter’s feelings and emotions. As I told you, she can so easily “paint” her feelings and emotions, and always, always ever so grateful for what and who she has around her. For every single detail she is always grateful and “sopra-os aos sete ventos”. :)

You mean that you would like to see here the original writing, in Portuguese?

[Echoes of Eros]

I love how emotions carry colors with them, and how well they come across in your daughter's writing. And so wonderful for all of us to learn this; to be more grateful! Yes, oh yes, would be beautiful to see in the original Portuguese. :)