Magnolia Tree

Magnolia Tree

I saw you behind the pecan tree
in the front yard arboretum
your condensed size
limbs spindly few
exotic leaves sparse
as city stars
no sun to finesse them

we had a dialogue
my hand on your trunk
a prayer
babying your roots
in summer hose water

one year
infrequent white flowers grew
a blue jay built its nest
in your fragrant hideout
a sign from the tree gods
4 hatchlings nurtured
from your small
tenacious heart

the drought came
the ground a cracked stone
the hose like a skinny pregnant snake
unable to deliver
enough water

trees die in slow motion
like they grow
their spirit shrivels
into the ground
an afterlife dream
in the subterranean mycelian
the dark world
promising new life