Coconut Deodorant

A poem

Coconut Deodorant

what i almost 
couldn’t write—
came finally, 
when my deodorant was down to half-a-stick.

a scent i wouldn’t typically choose,
but don’t mind: 
coconut,
was on clearance;
so i bought it—without a second thought. 

but the second thought did come—
when i put it on;
the smell hit me and
i’d realized what i’d done…

i’d forgotten 
you hated coconut scent—
especially deodorant.

i’d forgotten—
i laughed when you told me that. 

i’d forgotten—
until it made me sick,
every time i smelled my own armpits;
every time i got a punishing whiff 
of coconut deodorant. 

yes, i’d forgotten—
in my ignorant bliss, 
saw “clearance” and thought, 
“how bad could it be? 
coconut sounds fine to me.” 

and i’d forgotten. 
of all options! 
why was that the scent i picked? 
how do I accept, for another half-a-stick, 
that i’d forgotten how not to smell like your absence?
that i’d forgotten 
you.

Sunrise at Kailua Beach Park on the island of Oahu in Hawaii

Thank you so much for reading 🖤

Em

You can purchase a copy of my poetry collection Harmless Frogs & Poison Darts, here!