Falling Apart like a Magnolia

wheeler_magnolia.jpg

We shed our organs after they’ve served 

our purpose: bud scales after bud burst, 

petals after pollination, leaves before winter. 

Scars are glyphs, spiraling precisely 

in each floral axis, tracing the stamens 

that shed their pollen, abscise, then fall 

into the embrace of petal-like organs.

Below the stamen scars, the scars 

of creamy tepals -- no misspelling. 

Last, coiled, dispersed by wind,

dried-up brown stigmas like cut curls, 

once alive as snakes on a god-head. 

Is this not a beautiful way to decay?

wheeler_magnolia2.jpg

Emily Wheeler is a freelance copy editor and, until her recent move to Cape Cod, was docent at the Arnold Arboretum. Read more.


Previous
Previous

Dream of Persephone

Next
Next

Visiting the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, Scotland