One
   scent
would
     always
stop
me in my tracks

The hearty,
          spicy,
              warm,
          comforting­
      smell
of Pumpkin Spice

Any form
              A latte
it didn't matter
             A candle
it sent my mind back
             A car freshener
to thanksgiving pie
             A chemical illusion
to a time
         filled with
     laughter,
         filled with
     joy,
         filled with
     food.

This perfectly
      magical
  scent would
       send me rushing home

I'd fling
          open
   my door
              catch a
                    whiff of that
                                                elusive
    ­                                       scent

My hands
          would
      shake
           my
     mouth
           would
     water
          tastebuds
    tired
of nothing
             but endless

nuts and yogurt and
nuts and yogurt and
yogurt and nuts and
nuts and yogurt and

Craving
          that
delicious food
that
     danced in my
         dreams, almost
tasting the
     Sweet
     Buttery
     Slice
     of
     one
     Perfect
     Pie.

Only to find an
                             empty
kitchen, a dark
house, a
                             dusty
kitchen, a clean
plate, and

my mom's hopeless eyes
staring
              at
                    the
           ­                  empty
          
                                           ceiling.