Twenty years ago this month I was in Enid A. Haupt Garden, a manicured
garden surrounded by two rows of saucer magnolia trees. The magnolious
large, cup shaped flowers showcasing breathtaking display of white or
pinkish-purple petals with outer petals of darker shade of pink or purple.
The petals, thick, soft and velvety scattered on the ground and benches.
I was swept away by the pleasant fragrance and captivated by the scent, a
combination of sweet, floral and slightly citrusy. A fragrance so noticeable
for the scent wafted through the garden, creating a pleasing aroma, like a
sweet lemony candy. Unforgettable! When will I see and smell them again?
Categories:
magnolias, flower,
Form: Free verse
Steel magnolias
By Michelle Morris
21/03/2023
I am a steel magnolia
Don't underestimate my strength
I have more backbone than ten men
And no time for false pretences
I've lived through unimaginable things
I've survived and thrived despite it all
I refuse to put limitations on myself
I will succeed by sheer force of will
We are steel magnolias
Don't underestimate our strength
We are the women who nurture you
We are the ones who give life's essence
We've lived through unimaginable things
We've survived despite it all
We refuse to put limitations on ourselves
We will succeed by sheer force of will
Never underestimate the women
Never think that you have us caged
No matter the circumstances we are in
We remain pure and strong and brave
Never forget how powerful we are
You are here because of us
Humanity's strength is acquired by our sacrifices
We are the foundation of hope and faith and love
© Michelle Morris, 2023
Categories:
magnolias, blessing, inspirational, life, power,
Form: Rhyme
Moonlight on magnolias, cream on cream
in the breathless hours of raven midnight.
So caught up in fragrant, dreamy delight
in beauty fraught, satin, platinum beams.
Darkness can be so much more than it seems
bringing beauteous, hidden truths to light,
Moonlight on magnolias.
In dusky shadows, fantasies take flight
in the hours of springtime's deep green regime.
Then stars twinkle, and pearl moon is agleam,
and in raisin darkness, pure white on white-
Moonlight on magnolias.
Written on 10/23/2022
For: Rousing Rondine Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Jeff Kyser
Categories:
magnolias, beauty, dream, flower, moon,
Form: Other
Daisy's Sweet Magnolias
As the sun shines so bright
The iridescent glow of yellow
Makes my eyes close so tight;
Produces a vision emanating a distinctive sense
Of warmth and joyfulness
Within my sight.
This feeling intensifies and transforms
Into long golden tresses....
Reveals a presence of a young little girl,
Standing in front of me,
Glancing upon the serene expression
Of my face.
She stretches out her right hand
Holding abundant brilliant magnolias
As a special gift to surprise me,
Makes me smile, and respond
With a warm embrace
And a heartfelt thank you.
She is truly one-of-a-kind, and....
Someone you don't ordinarily meet.
Her kindness, her lively personality
Makes that special moment so sweet,
Extraordinary, and memorable. That's Daisy!
Categories:
magnolias, appreciation, flower, girl, giving,
Form: Prose
a sea of luscious buds -
pink promises
ready to burst into bloom.
That night,
the freeze came,
withered the petals
to shriveled brown remains
But is this sadder
than never to have budded
at all?
April 12, 2018
Categories:
magnolias, nature,
Form: Free verse
whiskey magnolias...
patchwork tongues
dart at the deep glass glistening--
We are painting the
wrought-iron spider webs
with silver moonlight.
My soul and the universe
are burning
at both ends.
Categories:
magnolias, halloween, metaphor, moon, spiritual,
Form: Alliteration
erased to try and get it published
Categories:
magnolias, absence, flower,
Form: Free verse
When my heart is caving in and I feel all alone,
I wake up in the morning so far away from home.
When my soul is crying out and I feel like I'm lost,
I'll hold my head up proud so I will pay the cost.
So life won't pass me by, I'll live while I can.
Make the best of days gone by, wish I could hold in my hands,
my magnolias crying in the rain.
Wish I could catch the drops that fall.
Instead I remain so far away from home.
When I'm crying out for life,
I'll hold my dreams I have in store.
Even though it seems I can't get my foot in the door.
And though I'll pay the price,
because I've sacrificed.
Soon I'll return again one day,
under Louisiana blue sky,
just so I could hold my,
magnolias crying in the rain.
Wish I could catch the drops that fall,
but instead I remain far away from home.
You gave me your hand to hold.
You kept me warm when I was cold.
So when my dreams unfold,
I'll be back to hold,
my magnolias crying in the rain,
so I can catch the drops that fall,
and no longer remain,
so far away from home.
Categories:
magnolias, death, dedication, depression, funeral,
Form: Free verse
The heady scent of summer nights
will glorify a lady much adored;
musky premonitions of an unrequited love,
a passion much too deep to be ignored.
All-consuming frenzy, reason does not rule
his fevered mind. She has said: 'No more!'
yet he won't accept her condemnation, won't endure
a heartache that would cut him to the core.
Magnolias fill the air with the fragrance of desire;
two men at odds, emotions frayed, yet resolute.
Two shots resound through early morning light,
one man lies dead, the other's hopes lie mute.
Categories:
magnolias, adventure
Form: Quatrain