Comfortable Mess

Home smells like dirt,

Tracked in by little feet.

Snow fallen from shoes,

Collected on the way to the people we meet.

Home is dust and baking cookies.

It's cupcakes and old stuffed cats.

Dry books,

And kitty litter.

Home smells like love,

And shiny new shoes.

Hot chocolate,

Homade noodles,

Homade soup.

Musty,

Faintly sweaty,

After snow clothes removed,

After a day out in winter.

Fresh and flowery.

Fresh water and cut grass,

Through the open windows in summer.

Rain and acrylic paints,

Baking bread.

Accident-prone children,

And burned curtains.

Home smells like wood stain,

And sawdust.

Like old fabric,

And hot glue.

It smells like watery sunshine,

And like laundry detergent.

Chocolate,

And fresh spices.

Home smells like mess,

But it also smells like comfort.