Magnolia Grand

Fairest flower of the south;
blooms sweet as cream, saucer-spooned
pepper buds revealing curled
pineapple fingers.

Scattered among Sweetgum and
White Ash in rich soils old,
velvet leaves cast midnight cloak
over all below.

Tolerating shade while young,
the Southern Magnolia stands
patient for the old to fall
and forfeit the sun.