You should know, I spent 20 minutes
in the shower making my hair chewy
like juicy fruit gum.

To impress, I put on cologne
that stung like cheap gin, not shaken,
stirred in whale *****.

You should know that your hair
smelled like pink frosting in the shape of a flower,
and I’m glad you don’t wear perfume.

Your house smelled like a summer breeze
blows, fresh but warm and inviting,
goose bump free and without stickiness.

I say this not to make you feel less self-conscious,
but to encourage you, please,
keep doing what you’re doing.

Your dog smelled like dog tongue tastes
when they’re uncontrollably kissing your face,
and the wine—  I didn’t smell the wine

because by this time, I noticed
you had no nose on your face,
and I didn’t want to rub it in… anything,

but I would imagine, it smelled
just like it tasted, as most things do
to someone with allergies.