Particular Scent
Your Baban’s home has a particular scent
a mixture of steamed rice and green tea
with a faint smoky stream of incense burning
and a nostalgic fragrance of tatami
Your Parent’s home has a particular scent
a mixture of steamed rice and green tea
with miso soup simmering on the stove
and ikebana atop the tv
Your Aunt’s home has a particular scent
a mixture of steamed rice and wealth
with a fragrance of imported furniture
and an old small dog in failing health
Your Brother’s home has a particular scent
a mixture of steamed rice and Spaghetti O’s
with small children and koi tanks in need of cleaning
and the crumbs from half-eaten Oreos
Your Sister’s home has a particular scent
a mixture of brown rice and Earl Grey
with a faint perfume of Clearasil
and tiled floors made of Mexican clay
Your home has a particular scent
a mixture of steamed rice and bamboo
with a fresh aroma of andagi
and the sweet bouquet of you.