Search

In: Anthology

This Morning A Fragrance – Grace Adeyemi

            reminiscent of celebrations
                    I open my eyes

get out of bed    paisley blue
pick my silk scarf off the floor

put on my floral beaded slippers
follow the fragrance to mother’s

            star anise skin
dressed in a technicolor kaftan
hair in a butterfly headwrap
washing a mountain of basmati by the sink window

Outside sunflowers and bus 67 are rumbling
I take in the air    thick with color
white onion bulbs    garlic cloves    plum tomatoes
red bell peppers    scotch bonnets
blended together    leaping in oil

ginger    sea salt    curry     Maggi chicken cubes
            thyme    bay leaves

gather together of one accord
to sing one of their favorite songs


Grace Adeyemi is a 28-year-old British-Nigerian female poet. She was born and raised in Hackney, London. She was longlisted for the 2020 Poetry London Mentoring Scheme. Her work is published in SAND Journal and Rewrite Reads literary magazine. She is currently working on her debut pamphlet.