Shel Graves' Sensorium

Taste:  black current lavender cider; barbecue sauce with Rainier Cherries Sight: opossums gather around the black tulip magnolia Sound:  tiger eye saxophone, Blondie's "Maria" and "Hazy Shade of Winter" Smell: sunscreen and aloe Touch: the weight of one cool apple in your hand held low while walking; a spray of sunscreen; holding hands Extra: a parachute, over a night lit fantastical, animalistic city Grateful for: dreams; dream poetry; summer days and nights; 80 degrees; urban walks, urban wildlife

Taste: peroxide; green papaya; mushroom and barbecue sauce Sight: Vitas; peony pink and yellow stamens Sound: Lea Moonchild Utopia Smell: peony Touch: grocery store keypads, toll machines Extra: hair dyed to look like a classic still life of peonies Grateful for: nearing completion of a goal

Taste: Three Kees Ciders Perry, Apple, Cherry Flirt Sight: lipstick colors; unfiltered apple cider Sound: happy pig squeals Smell:  llama pee Touch: a goat's neck Extra:  parasailing over Bellingham Bay; flowers as a garnish Grateful for: resilience; a friend's 40th birthday; health; activist friends; activities; feeling useful

Taste: green tea, teecchinco, maccachino, mocha maccachino, coffee; caramel, hazelnut, vanilla almond cream Sight: wisteria, irises, red clover Sound: braying; singing bowls Smell: scrambled eggs (VeganEgg) Touch: sitting, shoveling, stretching Extra: eating cake; it would be a miracle Grateful for: playing games with Sam; everything's a miracle; friends making bad puns