Laura Rodley, a Pushcart Prize winner, has been nominated for the prize seven times and has also received five Best of the Net nominations. Her recent works include Turn Left at Normal (published by Big Table Publishing Company), Counter Point (published by Prolific Press), and Ribbons and Moths: Poems for Children (published by Kelsay Books). With a talent for capturing the essence of life, Rodley’s writing resonates with readers of all ages. Whether exploring the natural world or delving into human emotions, her words evoke a sense of wonder and connection. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PClY8G6HQwk

Why

By Laura Rodley

She smelled like home:
popcorn, buttered burnt toast,
coffee extra cream, and
for some reason, pine trees,
as though she’d just been
walking in the forest.
Where I live all the pines
have been cut down
for lumber, timber turned
into tiny houses, tiny towns.
She smelled like home
and I had to hold
her hand, ask her
to marry me and she said yes,
her eyes blue as summer skies.