The Smell of Smoke

In the spring—
and sometimes in the fall,
but much more in the spring—

the winds come back
down the chimney, puffing cloud-
colored ashes, stirring
trouble, leaving the living
room redolent of thick-cut
hickory-smoked bacon

and decades-past Scouting trips,
campfires and family

vacations among the trees and garbage-
trained bears along the Iron Range,

unsanctioned college bonfires, waking
in borrowed sleeping bags,

but mostly, tantalizingly,
the bacon.

—Steve Amick

Steve Amick is a novelist living in Ann Arbor. He is the author of two novels, “Nothing But a Smile” and “The Lake, the River & the Other Lake.” His short stories have appeared in McSweeney’s, Playboy and the Southern Review. He also writes poetry. For those vegetarians amongst us check out this recipe for veggie bacon. Read more about Steve Amick and his writing here.