Spices of Life
Alexis W.
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I wrote this piece about what it means to me to live through different spices. We all have smells that bring us back to particular moments, instances, or memories. For some, the smell of Spanish rice and spicy chicken reminds us of our Aunt’s house; for others, the smell of steak sizzling on a barbeque brings back memories of playing football on the back lawn; and the smell of banana muffins reminds some of their mothers baking when bananas got too ripe to eat. We all have memories related to scent, and I decided to play with that idea a little bit and “spice” it up. For me, Cinnamon reminds me of being young and my mom making oatmeal on Monday mornings. Nutmeg reminds me of Christmas time, sprinkling the sweet spice on eggnog. Paprika, a spicy smell, reminds me of fights. Ginger is the reset button that gets pressed to cleanse a pallet. Vanilla is a different sort of concept -- sweet to smell but bitter to taste -- just like the bittersweet ending of life. With this concept, I wrote a poem with three parts, each a new stage of life. I hope you enjoy.
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I have always been a communicator and writing is an essential part of my life. On an individual level, writing has helped me unpack my feelings and opinions. On a global level, writing has taught me how valuable it is to have your voice heard. Life is a beautiful thing worth writing about.