this is how new york smelled
a bonfire in the distance
burning rubber down the street
the neighbor’s barbecue in full swing
burnt burgers and sparklers
like a childhood summer up in flames
the smoke still lingering
in the last wisps of august air
this is how it sounded, too
like jumping on my friend’s trampoline
in a wet bathing suit while
our dads laugh and drink beer
lawnmowers humming
planes whirring
children shrieking
and birds singing
singing like swing sets
squeaking, back and forth
a marvelous rhythm
as if even the birds
remember being little.
Natalie Rogers is a poet based in southern Maine. She self-published her debut poetry book, The Girl I Used to Be, in October 2024. Her work has been published in The Write Launch. In her free time, she enjoys collecting typewriters, painting, and reading tarot.
