Dearest dad

Something touched me briefly.

A memory activated in the olfactory sense. Unlocking something I long buried under living.

Beard scruff scratching my face.

Age wrinkled sun colored skin.

Swirls of smells.

Barlbasol shaving cream

Brute aftershave

And Marlboro cigarettes.

A startling sadness seeps into me

An old grief that has yellowed like paper.

Even after all this time.

I’m reminded of how much of a hole

You left behind