Potpourri

There's a smell to age
present in homes of the old
and sick
that is sour and a little metallic:
the breath of bowels.

By contrast, the smell of geraniums
is a smell that's clean,
even left outside for the winter;

or, if brought in,
old leaves already turned brown
spread a spicy fragrance
from a bowl
that is blue on the inside;
outside, true round.