There is something arresting and unearthly about a magnolia tree in flower. Something that dances between divinity and dementia. A whirling dervish of a tree. Bursting with grace and an utter lack of restraint. See how it holds up its leafless branches. A candelabra, extravagantly ablaze with lunatic blossoms and zero sense of rationing or self-preservation. See how these flowers, some the size of your clenched fist, some the size of your whole hand, yawn open, with such unrestrained ardor it nearly turns them inside out. See how they do not bloom so much as detonate, in a series of soft explosions. See how like the fleshy tongues of dragons they are. These enormous creamy petals streaked with sunset shades. How their thick scent drugs the air. Drowns all thought in sweetness. An ancient tree architected for prehistoric times. Magnolias have bloomed on earth for 100 million years. Yes. These flowers opened above the heads of dinosaurs, long before humankind was a twinkle in the eye of the universe. And because they predate even the bees, their propagation across time and space was left to outsized beetles, who stricken with wanderlust stumbled across these velvety inner chambers. Kicked up a dusty cloud of pollen and unleashed a long chain of events that unfurled across the last Ice Age, and into the Stone Age and alongside the rise and fall of nameless tribes and civilizations, and the creation of the printing press, the steam engine, frothy cappuccinos and the birth of the internet, leading improbably to this very tree. Here. The one directly in front of me. The one my husband strolls under at the exact moment that a little lick of wind decides to kick up its heels. A handful of petals drift gently over him like a benediction. An origami instant that folds itself into my palm. Dear and delicate as a paper crane. Later I will look up what magnolia flowers symbolize. Nobility, beauty, dignity….Dignity…I think about the word. How it stands tall and runs deep and how much it has to do with integrity and how little with being — normal. I think about this outlandish tree that traces back to Time’s cradle, and its flowers that open alarmingly wide as if to swallow the sun, the way it gives itself madly to the moment. With radical generosity and no reservation. And what wouldn’t be possible — if we could learn to live like that.
February 23, 2016
The Poetry Of 
February 23rd, 2016 at 6:46 pm
Whoa! What a magnificent splurge of the most colorful , descriptive vocabulary . A thoroughly enjoyable read . I will never look at a magnolia in the same way again . Esther Miranda
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February 24th, 2016 at 5:02 pm
Thank you Miranda! They bloom every year, but somehow this year seems like the first time I’m truly seeing the magnolias 🙂
February 23rd, 2016 at 9:52 pm
A tree to humbly bow to, and to pay respect to. A species that teaches us, indeed, how to live. Thank you for awaking us to magnolia trees.
February 24th, 2016 at 5:03 pm
Looking at these trees does feel like its own form of receiving a blessing. Gratitude for the warm words Avriane!
February 23rd, 2016 at 11:32 pm
Lovely Piece ! I have a great fascination for trees, esp flowering trees ! Keep writing
February 24th, 2016 at 5:06 pm
Thanks Geetha! Flowering trees feel like a little glimpse of paradise. I love them too 🙂
February 24th, 2016 at 6:44 am
A lovely tribute to an ancient species, Magnolia, from the perspective of an amazing writer.
February 24th, 2016 at 5:07 pm
Thank you for the kind words Suzy. It blew me away to find out just how long magnolias have been here. We are such newcomers to this earth. With so much to learn!
February 24th, 2016 at 5:35 pm
I’ve been following your blog for a while, and each piece has moved me, but none as much as this one. I felt my heart soar higher and higher with every sentence. Thank you.
February 24th, 2016 at 10:14 pm
Thanks Shruthi! Lovely to discover your blog today and to learn that we are both book-loving, redwood-tree-adoring, South Indian transplants in this sunlit neck of the woods 🙂 Looking forward to staying in touch.
February 25th, 2016 at 1:19 am
Your descriptive power is just as magnanimous as the Magnolia Tree. Thank you for bringing these and other forgotten treasures to life with such fluidity. You are remarkable and I am very appreciative of your gifted scripts.
March 3rd, 2016 at 5:29 am
Hi,
I’ve been following your blog for quite sometime now. I am mesmerized by how you fill in so much of meaning and depth in such succinct narratives. Your writing always fills my heart with good feelings and I’ve come back to read some of your posts again and again to relish them. Your writing is an inspiration. Thank you 🙂
March 21st, 2016 at 7:53 pm
Gladdens my heart to know that these little posts bring you joy Shruthi! Thanks for the kind words…sending good wishes your way 🙂
April 10th, 2016 at 11:08 am
Pavi whenever I read your poetry it makes me feel like Alice in Wonderland, who has stumbled down this curious hole, arriving into this world of wonder (despite my mind’s most stubborn effort to keep me locked up in the cycle of my mundane thoughts). Every line of your poems feels like the unraveling of something wonderful and beautiful and exciting, as I sit on the edge of my seat like a child waiting to see what’s written on the next page of her most favorite story. Your poetry awakens my heart.
June 13th, 2019 at 12:00 pm
[…] quote Pavithra M at the beginning of this post. Her short piece, “Magnolia Tree” powerfully communicates the essence of the magnolia and our attraction to it. Be sure to click over […]
June 13th, 2019 at 12:02 pm
This is so beautiful. I “discovered” your blog while searching for a “magnolia poem.” Thank you for your expert description. I quoted you and linked to your post in my latest blog post. Thank you!
June 14th, 2019 at 9:16 am
Glad you enjoyed the post Chandra! And lovely to be introduced to your blog as well — thank you for rippling out the beauty of your world in the ways that you do.
June 15th, 2019 at 10:30 am
Hugs to you!
October 4th, 2019 at 2:05 pm
[…] Pavithra Mehta’s declaration regarding the magnolia warrants repeating, so I’m thankful Christine reminded me of it. […]
May 20th, 2020 at 6:54 am
Beautiful magical words to describe this tree. I too learn from the short unbashful bloom of its flowers and how they majestically open to take in the wind and sun. And with delicate whispers, the petals coat the grass beneath it soon after. Such a short bloom, like our experience here in this moment.. now we wait until the next spring!
Love your article and poetry!