My dear friend, the scent expert, Nicola, often shares stories of what he sees around him on his travels and reminds me to look for beauty in unexpected places.
So when I saw this work of graffiti in NYC a few weeks ago, I not only chuckled at its fun message, but I immediately thought of him.
I sent Nicola the photo and asked him if the graffiti inspired him in any way, would he be generous enough to write something for my blog, and lucky for me, it did!
from Nicola:
Girl, smell more
And the world will unfold.
Smell the brown,
Your day can be more round.
Smell the yellow,
Feel the joy, let it be your fellow.
Smell the green,
Freedom, that’s what it means.
Smell the white,
Flowers by day, love by night.
Smell the blue,
The sea is yours, but he is… who?
Girl, smell more
And the world will unfold.
THANK YOU, Nicola! Sei un tesoro!
So, let’s all read more, smell more, inspire and be inspired!
Check out Nicola’s blog here: postmodernspray.blogspot.com
reading interrupted. 
Great poem and reminder to read and smell more! It’s funny how a lot of books don’t describe the sense of smell very often, but when they do it really helps to put the reader in that place.
You’re right, Sheila, I’m trying to think of memorable passages from my favorite books that describe particular smells, but not a lot are coming to mind. That’s quite interesting. But whenever a smell is described, it does create a more personal moment almost immediately due to the strong link between smell and memory, so true.
How fun!
Wise words, right? 🙂
Sounds like you have a really creative friend. Great post and keep up the awesome work 🙂
He definitely is!
Thanks for the kind words and encouragement 🙂
You’re very welcome 🙂 Best of luck with everything and thanks for stopping by my blog, I really appreciate it.
This is fantastic! We think that we see or read with only our eyes. I got goosebumps reading this poem. Reminded me to open all of my senses to the possibilities that are waiting for me!!!
I’m so glad you loved it too!
I think we often forget how important our sense of smell is in our everyday lives (and yet we breathe, in part, through our noses!).
Yes! Exactly. I understand that it is the sense of smell that evokes the deepest memories. 🙂
My son won’t eat something if it doesn’t “smell right” to him. I call him a “super smeller” the way oenophiles can be super tasters.
And certain scents take me out of my body and send me into the past. Hay. Manure. Wool. The cats. My grandfather’s tool shed. Eucalyptus. Warm pine needles. Oh, so many.
That’s wonderful that your son is a super smeller, and therefore, a super taster. Perhaps he will grow up to be a perfumer or a chef!
I love your list of scents that take you back – it made me think of what my own list would be. Your grandfather’s tool shed made me think of my grandfather’s pipe tobacco.
Nicola seems to be very creative. What fresh thoughts…
Nice read. 🙂
We’re lucky when we can be surrounded by creative friends as they encourage us in our own creativity.
I’ve always admired your stories and your photography as I’ve read and seen them through your blog so I know you understand 🙂
I’m always game for reading more. Housework can wait. 😉
That’s the great thing about reading, there are always more books to read!
But I guess sometimes we need to put the book down and dust the bookshelves 😉
Great post and reminder to read and write with the senses in mind. The sense of smell is often neglected, unless it is a food expert.
Thanks, Lynne! Yes, we so often take it for granted. I’m sure in your fun travels you’ve come across some wonderful (and perhaps some terrible) odors!
Oh my I love this, your friend is so talented, what a lovely poem, this post has all the things I love.
Certain books make us aware of our surroundings, and make us smell too. I pin it to my Pinterest hope you do not mind.
I’m so glad you loved the poem too, Doris – especially coming from a poet and artist such as yourself!
I like the poem alot!
So glad; me too!
Great find! and WOWnderful poem! 🙂 Loved both!
Thank you!
I was so excited when I saw that graffiti- what a fun and original thing to write!
I was thinking of your blog yesterday- hope the little baby birds are doing well!
i guess you want me to check on them. *sigh* their mama really scared me. she didn’t like it if i got near her babies. i might need a helmet 🙂 wish me luck.
Oh dear, maybe just wait until they fly away then! I wouldn’t want you to scare them away (or get a sharp beak in the head!).
too late. I already went to the bushes and checked on their nest. the good news is i’m still alive 🙂 the bad news is i found the nest emptied 😦 ah well… i love your shot and the poem! i’ve said it before, haven’t i?!
I am glad to hear that you are alive! Perhaps, if the nest is empty, the little birds have already flown away. That’s what I will imagine as that is a nicer image than the alternative!
This is absolutely wonderful, Letizia! What a find 😀
I was so excited, Dianne, and I love imagining the graffiti artist hanging off the rooftop to paint, not his/her name nor his/her declaration of love to another, but a command to read more books!
Wow, what vitality and fun ! Great poem Letizia… smell is the oldest sense we have, isn’t it,? Something to do with our reptilian brain?… it seems to triggers such old deep memories of things we ‘ve long forgotten…
Yes, I think it’s situated in the oldest, earliest part of our brain – it’s such a fascinating sense.
(V- I’ve gotten behind in reading your posts and I saw you have one on reading in bed, can’t wait to read it!).
Lately, when I have settled down to read at night I have had some lavender essences under my pillow and on my bedside table with my books. It is delightful to read in a haze of lavender but it also makes me fall asleep before I have read more than a few pages 😀
Lavender essence under your pillow must be quite lovely and, at least, you are slowly savoring your book!
Some smells are triggers that open up our past. The senses are so important in a good story and in life. I enjoyed the poem and you post, Letizia.
You are so right, Dannie. Thanks for reading and your constant encouragement.
I love the poem 🙂
I’m so glad; me too!
Combined the two and smell the books you read, there is a whole new olfactory world to be experienced and it makes me happy to get the scent of a good book around myself….and that’s nothing to be sniffed at!
I’m like you; I love the smell of books too. I wrote about a woman who is doing a project on smelling all the books in the library where she works – what a fun project: https://readinginterrupted.com/2012/06/07/nosy-readers-2/
I remember that one, it was one my lurker likes from back in the day and now here I am Mr Confident and all that. I think this has made me want to sniff books even more…luckily I have a room full of them right here.
A lovely poem to go with the words! I actually said ‘you go girl’ to a friend earlier today! 😀
What a funny coincidence!
Love the message (for once graffiti said something good)…and the poem.
Both are quite inspirational, I agree.
Siete sempre più incredibili…You both are so more that the world unfold. Vi adoro!
Cara Tania! Tu sei un altra amica che ispira sempre la mia creativita e che mi ricorda di guardare inaspettata bellezza del mondo!
Love the poem and the photo. I agree. We should all read more!
It’s such a great message, isn’t it? And I love the image of a bibliophile scaling the walls to paint his/her message on the building – it makes me laugh, it’s so unexpected!
I loved the poem. It was meaningful. Thanks for the post.
I’m so glad it connected with you.
Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to comment!
Reading, writing, love, support.. messages to a special girl from someone’s (broken) heart?
Fortunately no broken hearts were involved 🙂
That is a lovely poem! Thank you for sharing it. 😀
I’m so glad you liked it too, Zen!
graffiti is perhaps the free writing expression, the free verse at the realm of any poem. Thanks for share so lovely post. Street art and art at streets…free writing…frees living…alive verse.
It’s true, graffiti, at its best, can be pure poetry- straight from the soul.
“Go read more!” — don’t need to tell me twice ! =)
Ha! I wouldn’t be surprised if you were the artist behind the graffiti 😉
that was indeed beautiful 🙂
So glad you liked it too!
😊
This is wonderful! Thanks to you and Nicola!
So glad you liked it too!