I miss the scent of city girls

[tectak]

Loved this one tectak, fast food and gas lights seems a bit incongruous unless of course you mean gas lights as coming from gas cookers at street stalls, but having said that it does sound more romantic than electric or neon lights. Thanks for the read.

You know, you are absolutely right about the gas lights. Though it is still correct that parts of London, where this poem is located, were lit by gas lamps, unless you were aware if this you would be inclined to think I was chronologically challenged!
The poem was a nostalgic throw back to the mid sixties. Wandsworth Bridge and Covent Garden (still lit by gas street lamps today) the setting. On cold nights the unburnt gas from the lamps dropped on contact with the cold glass and if you were standing below, which many did, the stench was memorable. Covent garden had a plethora of eateries which chucked out the fast food of the era, usually involving deep frying, and this scent ,too, became emotive.
BUT, if you are under 30, live in Guatemala, or have never looked up, I can see your puzzlement.
The idea of the piece was to pack in as many scent-stimulated references as possible without it becoming boringly obvious. This is why I disavowed Todd his reference to the smell of neon lights! They just don't have a smell! City girls do.
Thanks for your kind words.
Best,
Tectak