Haiku Reflections

This poem communicates beautifully the moment when, after recovering from an illness, a person’s senses begin to come back—by noticing, and delighting in, the simple seasonal scents of everyday life. That feeling of “almost recovered” brings about a joyful state of hope–almost euphoria–in the realization that illness will not last forever and that regular life will be resuming shortly. Covid is one illness that can rob a person of their sense of smell, which is a profoundly disorienting experience. This sense, in addition to orienting us in our environment, also directly connects to long-term memories, as well as to our sense of taste. To be without it for a prolonged period results in a sensory deprivation experience unlike any other. Adding to the insult of this, one is unable to enjoy the very simple rituals they rely upon every day to create structure–enjoying a cup of coffee or smelling flowers in their garden. When, eventually, the very first scents begin to break through this isolating cloud of illness, the simple scent of coffee can create a profoundly ecstatic moment of joy and calm–activating the memory of safety, comfort, connection. The very first scented breeze one experiences is a transformative experience. The second one affirms the knowledge that the first was not an olfactory hallucination, and that indeed, the poet is on the mend. A life-altering experience packed into these three simple lines.
—Mariya Gusev