A Bowlful of Memories

By -
Ambi Pur Smelly to Smiley - Runner-up

Roses, Fragrance, Ambi pur, Nimbu Paani, Rice, Tulsi, Memories, NostalgiaFrom fresh roses in the lawn,
To the aroma of deep frying.
Ah! Fragrances remind me of merrier times...

Washed cotton sheet on the bed,
Trailing fragrance of Agarbatti in the house.
Whiff of Liril talcum powder from Mom,
Quick sniff of petrol from scooter, if Dad allows.
What else could make home a better place to be?
Roses, Fragrance, Ambi pur, Nimbu Paani, Rice, Tulsi, Memories, NostalgiaA jubilant celebration, a nostalgic potpourri!

Royal scent of rose petals in Nimbu Paani,
Aroma of Basmati Rice.
Mouth watering tinge of dal fried in Desi Ghee,
Freshly baked cake that doubles the appetite.
Fragrances of home made cooking sets spirits free,
A tempting invitation, a nostalgic potpourri!

Aura of wet soil in the summer,
Moth balls smell from winter clothes.
Intoxicating scent from a new book,
Chai made from cardamon-tulsi-cloves.
A gush of aromatic emotions fills me,
A jog down the memory lane, a nostalgic potpourri!

Stench from tiny box of Cherry Blossom,
Musty odor from damp shelves.
Nose twitching at times,
Spraying of room fresheners to cleanse.
Diwali cleaning, spring cleaning never a spree,
Yet it is, a nostalgic potpourri!

Masculine scent of Old Spice from Dad's shaving kit,
Incensed hair massaged with Coconut Oil on Saturday night.
Crisp effusion from Nail Polish remover,
Cotton dress starched in Revive.
 Fresh plucked twig of Neem tree,
Even toiletries created... a nostalgic potpourri!
From Smelly traces here and there,
To Smiley bouquet ever-fine.
Ah! Fragrances remind me of merrier times...


***********************

*To create your own bowlful of memories, click and explore fragrances from www.facebook.com/AmbiPurIndia
**This poem is written for 'Smelly To Smiley' contest on Indiblogger, sponsored by Ambi Pur.

Comments

  1. AnonymousAugust 26, 2013 at 10:46 AM

    So lyrically written! Smell is one of the triggers that can really bring back memories.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Karan SampatAugust 26, 2013 at 11:10 AM

    Lovely..and all the best to you..:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. TeamgsquareAugust 26, 2013 at 1:10 PM

    All the best.

    ReplyDelete
  4. kalpana solsiAugust 26, 2013 at 2:05 PM

    Nostalgic smell/fragrance in lyrics. The starch of Revive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalAugust 27, 2013 at 3:28 PM

      Revive starch brings back many happy summer memories. Thanks for reading Ma'am.

      Delete
  5. RatAugust 26, 2013 at 4:59 PM

    lovely lyrics.. spreads fragrance and nostalgic feelings.. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. sushmithaAugust 26, 2013 at 7:32 PM

    Fresh roses in the lawn ,
    Quick sniff of petrol,
    Aroma of Basmati rice..
    I have felt these things ;)
    Lovely and well described :) All the best :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalAugust 27, 2013 at 3:37 PM

      You too like the smell of petrol. Thanks for reading and for your wishes, Sush.

      Delete
  7. Found In FolsomAugust 26, 2013 at 7:48 PM

    I am enjoying these posts on smells :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalAugust 27, 2013 at 3:41 PM

      Me too, every post is a trip down the memory lane.

      Delete
  8. Pooja AbhayAugust 26, 2013 at 11:09 PM

    You made me relive my memories too. Nicely done. :) I used to love Cherry blossom stench though. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalAugust 27, 2013 at 3:46 PM

      Oh, you do. Even my brother liked it and used to tease me. Thanks for reading and for a lovely comment.

      Delete
  9. Rahul BhatiaAugust 27, 2013 at 12:20 AM

    Absolutely adorable:) You covered them all Saru! Best of luck for the contest!

    ReplyDelete
  10. BlogwatiGAugust 27, 2013 at 2:04 AM

    Ah..............so many I missed as I can see now :) Beautiful one Saru. Truly A nostalgic potpourri.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Jayashree SrivatsanAugust 27, 2013 at 2:28 AM

    Wow saru some of these are heavenly ones . Liril talc from mom - wow

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalAugust 27, 2013 at 3:52 PM

      Yeah, that's my favorite of all. I miss that fresh and fragrant cuddle. Thanks for reading Jayashree.

      Delete
  12. PassionateAugust 27, 2013 at 5:06 AM

    As i read my nose sailed through memories of having experienced these smells...:-) nice one

    ReplyDelete
  13. RamakrishnanAugust 27, 2013 at 5:11 AM

    Wow ! What a lovely way to describe the entire range of fragrances and smells & odours. In India we still experience most of these but those who live in distant lands will be certainly become nostalgic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalAugust 27, 2013 at 4:35 PM

      Absolutely true, Sir. Here we miss these fragrances. Thanks for reading, Sir.

      Delete
  14. UnknownAugust 27, 2013 at 5:34 AM

    Saru my whole being is soaked in the fragrance of all things bright and beautiful.All the best for the contest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalAugust 27, 2013 at 4:38 PM

      That's such a beautiful comment Ma'am. Glad my words evoked such feelings in you. Thanks for reading and for your wishes.

      Delete
  15. swatiAugust 27, 2013 at 8:24 AM

    Beautiful Saru.. and your poem really made me go down the memory lane.. this is just wow and it does makes me nostalgic for all those things that we have left behind...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalAugust 27, 2013 at 4:51 PM

      Thank you Swati and welcome back. You were missed. :)

      Delete
  16. Stuti DhyaniAugust 27, 2013 at 8:24 AM

    Aha. poetry on such a topic. wonderful! all the best

    ReplyDelete
  17. Gayatri SoniAugust 27, 2013 at 10:23 AM

    It's really a "bowlful of memories". You have put everything in the basket of nostalgia. :) Good luck! :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Ankur AnandAugust 27, 2013 at 11:15 AM

    adorable writeup ! .. all the very best for contest !

    ReplyDelete
  19. Blasphemous AestheteAugust 27, 2013 at 11:26 AM

    This earth is so abundant of aromas, it is hard to neglect any.
    Nice read Saru, best of luck for the contest!

    Cheers,
    Blasphemous Aesthete

    ReplyDelete
  20. BushraAugust 27, 2013 at 10:53 PM

    Lovely! Got driven into my own nostalgia :D All the best! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Dr Roshan RadhakrishnanAugust 27, 2013 at 11:47 PM

    so many wonderful memories ... Old Spice was a regular smell back when my dad was younger :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalAugust 28, 2013 at 8:48 AM

      Old Spice is really really old :P

      Thanks for reading Roshan.

      Delete
  22. Deepak KripalAugust 28, 2013 at 2:18 AM

    you have conjured a magical recipe here, full of all the spices that could be found in the narrow lane of nostalgia.

    Delicious potpourri... :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalAugust 28, 2013 at 8:57 AM

      What a beautiful line! Thanks for reading Deepak :)

      Delete
  23. AditiAugust 28, 2013 at 3:48 AM

    This is so beautiful n such a lovely rhyme! I bet most of us can relate to it...you have not left a single memory...yes smells can be so nostalgic!!
    All the very best!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Sunil PadiyarAugust 28, 2013 at 8:01 AM

    Ah! The fragrance of (saru-jee's) words.. indeed :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. UnknownAugust 28, 2013 at 8:19 AM

    Poetic, lyrical and beautiful!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Manjulika PramodAugust 28, 2013 at 9:47 AM

    Its got everything that reminds me too of the old times.. lovely!!

    Just a spell check for tulsi.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalAugust 28, 2013 at 10:05 AM

      Thanks for reading and pointing the typo, Manjulika.

      Delete
  27. Mr.MiglaniAugust 28, 2013 at 11:03 AM

    wah

    ReplyDelete
  28. संजय भास्‍कर August 29, 2013 at 6:23 AM

    lovely lyrics interesting creation Suru ji !

    ReplyDelete
  29. SakshiAugust 29, 2013 at 8:45 AM

    In poetry you stand unmatched, Saru. The Award you got could not have been another's. Love how you have gathered so many fragrances from the everyday and collected them in this post - indeed a lovely potpourri.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalAugust 30, 2013 at 8:43 AM

      Kinda speechless now. Coming from you, it's a huge compliment Sakshi. You just made my day. And thanks for reading the poem. :)

      Delete
  30. Afshan ShaikAugust 29, 2013 at 8:47 AM

    Wow the lines are beautiful and really flow like a song
    Nostalgia wave it is .
    I enjoyed writing for this too
    Good luck :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalAugust 30, 2013 at 8:44 AM

      Yeah, yours was beautiful, specially the last verse. Thanks for reading Afshan.

      Delete
  31. RachnaAugust 29, 2013 at 11:21 AM

    So lovely, Saru! All those amazing aromas, each one of them delightful and keep taking us back to our childhood days. Beautiful poetry! A nostalgic potpourri alright!

    ReplyDelete
  32. BGTAugust 30, 2013 at 12:08 AM

    Wow! Wonderful poem Saru. You have included all the different aromas from nature and blended it perfectly in your poem..

    And when I think I can actually win something (finally), here's comes a masterpiece! :D All the best yaar :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalAugust 30, 2013 at 8:53 AM

      C'mon Binu, itna bhi accha nahi hai :P Just kidding...

      Yours was beautiful with the back drop of Kerala and its delicacies. Thanks for a generous comment and good luck to you too :)

      Delete
  33. joshi danielAugust 30, 2013 at 7:28 AM

    smells nice ;)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Saru SinghalAugust 30, 2013 at 8:47 AM

    True, a typical house is loaded with such happy memories. Thanks for your wishes Ash :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. RoshniAugust 30, 2013 at 11:56 AM

    I have been reading some wonderful posts, thanks to this contest and this is really brilliant, Saru!

    ReplyDelete
  36. UnknownAugust 30, 2013 at 12:12 PM

    Super post saru...Gave a glimpse on my good old days..Am so feeling homesick now..:(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalAugust 31, 2013 at 8:47 AM

      I was missing my hometown when I was penning it. Thanks for reading and welcome here :)

      Delete
  37. SwapnaAugust 30, 2013 at 2:55 PM

    So I already know who is going to win the Ambipur Contest! And I am commenting on their blog right now. :D You are just too good Saru. Love your thought process. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalAugust 31, 2013 at 8:52 AM

      Hehehehe...I hope so but you need a lot of luck to be part of that winning list. Thanks for reading and for a generous comment, Swapna. :)

      Delete
  38. PritiAugust 30, 2013 at 6:46 PM

    YAY...wish you were there at the event...I enjoyed it thoroughly...and missed Swapna and Vandana...well written Saru....all the best! U rock girl! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalAugust 31, 2013 at 8:57 AM

      I am so jealous of you guys. Haven't attended even a single Indi meet. And, thanks for reading and for your wishes, Priti.

      Delete
  39. KrishhAugust 31, 2013 at 7:29 AM

    Lovely poem Saru.... such beauty churning out of everyday life is always so refreshing and connecting. Keep it up.

    ReplyDelete
  40. RichaSeptember 3, 2013 at 12:06 PM

    Very nice poem. Thanks for visiting my blog.

    I have re-submitted my post. But how would I know that now I did it the right way?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalSeptember 3, 2013 at 12:45 PM

      Thanks for reading, Richa. Hope you got my message.

      Welcome here!

      Delete
  41. RichaSeptember 3, 2013 at 12:55 PM

    I am not sure that message popped up. I guess it was - your post is active on Indivine. :-(

    ReplyDelete
  42. Amrit SinhaSeptember 4, 2013 at 3:11 AM

    This is such a sweet poem ... all the best for the contest :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalSeptember 4, 2013 at 11:36 AM

      Thanks Amrit. I seriously need your wishes, competition is really tough in this one. :)

      Delete
  43. RichaSeptember 4, 2013 at 3:33 AM

    Hey I did post it as a new post..and did what you told me. Finally got that message.

    Thanks so much for helping me. I'll be following your blog from now. A wonderful space I must say!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Zainab Ummer FarookSeptember 4, 2013 at 5:07 AM

    Very evocative poem! Loved reading it. All the best for the contest :)

    ReplyDelete
  45. UnknownSeptember 11, 2013 at 10:40 PM

    Hmm. Wet Soils-Moth Balls-Old Spice-Coconut Oil Every Indian's diet of good old family memoirs - loved your poem!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Saru SinghalSeptember 12, 2013 at 2:15 PM

      Yeah, everyday diet of good old family fun days. Glad you liked it, Pratik. :)

      Delete
  46. Afshan ShaikSeptember 12, 2013 at 7:37 AM

    that old spice thng reminded me dad instantly :(
    Truly nostalgic post which u weaved to a lovely poem as always :)
    good lck

    ReplyDelete
  47. UnknownNovember 6, 2013 at 2:34 AM

    Beautifully woven together! :)

    ReplyDelete
  48. Jyotsna BhatiaNovember 15, 2013 at 9:26 AM

    Congrats Saru.. A well deserved win :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Bricks, brickbats, applause - say it in comments!

Popular posts from this blog

Rewind - September 2023

By -
 I wrote the following in September. Sometimes, I feel I will forget the art of writing couplets because I am not writing at all this year. I strongly believe you have to practice to hone your craft. And I am not doing that. Perhaps I schedule a time to write a poem. Or I need better time management skills. Date Published 09/05/2023 मुझे उसके जाने का इतना अफ़सोस नहीं हुआ  जितना इस बात का कि इतने सालों तक उसे रहने ही क्यों दिया  Love, Saru
Read more

I Am Not Alone

By -
Image
Last year blessed me, He walked silently into my life. It was Love, That took me in its stride. One evening we walked holding hands, Then, I told him what I felt in heart. He said we were one soul, Who were living in parts. To bring the parts together, We fought with the world and tied the knot. Being one soul, Gave life a whole new spot. Chirping birds, floating clouds, Nature conspired for us. Always swimming against the tide, Life was in an adrenaline rush. This year cursed me, He walked silently out of my life. It was Death, That took him in its stride.       Yesterday his soul was saying, Fearing memories will fade, he can’t move on. He will stay and admire me, Standing always by my side from dusk to dawn. Image Source - Here
Read more

यूँ दो चार घंटे के लिए नहीं

By -
Image
फ़ुर्सत में मिलना मुझसे यूँ दो चार घंटे के लिए नहीं  सिर्फ़ हाल चाल नहीं पूछना बातें करनी है तुमसे कई देखना है तुम्हें एक टक शिकवे करने है तुमसे कई हज़ार जब नाराज़ हुए थे तुम मुझसे और जब छेड़ा था मुझे बीच बाज़ार चवन्नी-अठन्नी सा ढोंग मत करना मान लेना मेरे हर कहे को सुबकियाँ से काम मत चलाना बेहने देना ग़र आँसू बेहे तो  सख़्त होने का दिखावा छोड़ आना नुक्कड़ वाले बनिये की दुकान पे सिद्दत से एक बार बोल देना  कि गलती होती है इंसान से तुम मुझे छोड़ गए उसका तुम्हें कभी अफ़सोस हुआ है क्या मैं नहीं तुमसे पूछूँगी  कि मेरे बाद मेरी तरह किसी को छुआ है क्या  ना मैं इस युग की मीरा हूँ  ना हो तुम मेरे घनश्याम बस इश्क़ है तुमसे बेपन्नह मुझे बाक़ी सब कुछ है मुझमें आम  तुम भी सोचते होगे ना  यह तीली सा इश्क़, ज्वालामुखी कब हुआ यूँ समझ लो तुम्हारे जाने के बाद तुम्हारे ख़याल ने दिन में 100 बार मुझे छुआ अब गणित में तो तुम अव्वल हो हिसाब लगा ही लोगे पर सोच के आना जनाब  पिछले 15 सालों का हिसाब कैसे दोगे  तो आना बस फ़ुरसत में  यूँ दो चार घंटे के लिए नहीं...
Read more