He often smelled like freshly brewed coffee
Sometimes like cinnamon, sometimes like lavender
But he always, always
Smelled like lies

The first time I loved
reminded me of the first time I smelt lavender
it touched the tip of my nose, so unexpected, yet so soft
drawing me into its source, the purple splendor

That’s how I remember our love, as a violet sky
A sight only present in the sunsets of our dreams

My nose bathed in the aroma
And for the first time, I felt fresh, pure, and clean

but it faded
the sweet scent of your love
and the fainter it became, the harder I tried to reach it
I thought it was the wind carrying it away
And so I followed the breeze
But it was lost, my nose was blind
and the flower was all that remained
comforting, Delicate, vibrant
yet not enough

oh what a fool I was
wanting magic and wasting life
I left the garden
In search of what I lost
Not knowing what I had found

because whether or not I could swim in its aroma
that flower rose to meet me each day, its petals full and its color deep
seeking to bless me with its beauty and grasp me in its care
hoping it would find me there, to protect it, keep it, and honor it
I hate to imagine the sadness, when I could no longer be found

now today, I only wish I knew where I first found it
so I could return
and though I’m sure that the scent would strike my heart again
this time I would stay
for I know now, that on the other side of the smoke screen
true beauty is waiting

I so hope that no one has picked her
yet I would not blame them if they did

you were the rising sun
creeping over my horizon,
filling my skies with dazzling bursts
of deep ambers and lavenders and crimsons
sending heat waves coursing through me
brushing the edges of my clouds
your silhouette imprinted on my eyelids
your shadow stuck to my feet
your taste scorched the roof of my mouth
i felt you in every inch of my skin
and i didn't mind at all

I was never much one for lavender
until you told me
it was your favorite
and suddenly
its sweet, sweet scent swept through
my room
my clothes
my hair
I held my breath
waiting for you to notice
(you never did say anything)
I kept it close to me
never asking myself
if I liked the way it smelled
it was your favorite.