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Poem for the Magnolias

Martin Walls

Magnolia flowers are opening their raw and awkward hearts as if they are about to confess to
             a perfect crime.

Before magnolia flowers, it was the time of fat, bruised buds; all the cats in Hove Park Road
             were unapproachable.

It’s raining. I’m lat for work, frustrated. I must be more like the magnolia.

The way their petals swell all-at-once, then over-extended for life.

Is it the curve on magnolia petals that makes the notes of ring doves so round, or vice-versa?

Every day, on my way to the wine store, I see the magnolias; pleasure more exquisite than
             my tea-break, or stealing a pack of Marlboros.

A magnolia blooms. The sea is calmed: fish throw themselves onto hooks.

When a magnolia flower unfurls it lets go a cry inaudible to humans.

There should be wine made from magnolia petals, to be drunk chilled with quail’seggs &
             salmon, or duck à la pêche with waterchestnuts.

The rain-smudged bark of the magnolia, petals scattered like bulb-lit windows in a dark street.

Today, both the sun & moon tried to imitate a magnolia flower.

Now the magnolias have blossomed, summer can continue. Dr. Dossiter may go on vacation,
             Mr. White can quite worrying about squash.

A magnolia flower opens in the middle of the evening; electricity flickers on & off.

On my way to work I remember to take the magnolias. That evening I’m £up on my till.

Steel-black woodlice gathering on a magnolia branch, & the roseate moonlight shining on
             them.
Magnolia petals say white, but they mean pink.

The Botanical History of Sussex by Gerald Legg does not include the cultivation of magnolias;
             they do not mind, confident of the influence they have.

I can hear laughter coming from the magnolias.

A magnolia flower awakens, taking stock of its whereabouts, careful not to speak too harshly.

These four trees have bloomed together, democratically. When they vote, they all vote for
             the Magnolia Party.

A magnolia bud, its aperture of petals unwinding.

The petals of the magnolia are simple, lucid, spontaneous, occurring.

Intent on crushing the cabbage butterfly, I thought of a magnolia petal come alive, & let it go.

                                                                                                                       Hove, England