"Magnolia
Trees no nothing about personal fulfillment when our m magnolia dances bright as Solome on Herod's birthday its sap doesn't get smug but moves on to the next thing, dipping its smooth leaves like a Reno dealer maybe or pushing a far branch towards open sky: there's always something to do
Our particular tree is on ancient Bull Bay Magnolia and never reached its full glory because it's in the shade of even taller oaks. It doesn't moan about its lost potential or wish it were on Wilson's lawn instead of ours under full sun and with luck when Mr. Wilson's sober judicious pruning some iron chelate in spring
No our old Bay hangs in there like a minor league third baseman with aching knees working the pitcher for a walk concentrating on the game itself and out of the shade and acid soil it squeezes yet one more blossom flooding the hot corner of our yard with cream and honey just doing its job
- Peter Meinke"
