I Can Still Smell The Village Poem by Kyle Schlicher

after swimming,
lying by the pool
i close my eyes,
relaxing in the sun.

i can see the palm trees,
the blue sky
and white clouds.

i smell the air,
heavy with diesel fuel,
other odors mingling
with it.

some kind of meat cooking,
scented smoke gently rising
from the fire,

fish and rice
simmering in sauce
of an unknown variety.

outdoor bathrooms,
water buffalos and dogs,

a hint of napalm
hanging on the wind
blowing in from the southwest
where echoes of explosions
are never mistaken
for the sound of thunder.

8-23-2014