Hello Andrea,

"Magnolia pages" This is an intriguing title. I love the magnolia tree. Its distinctive, heavy large petals in various stages of ripeness always make me smile in awe, and in jealousy too, for I have always wanted my own tree, so I can marvel at the flowers whenever I choose.

Using this flower in the context of pages, I think off the large thick petals, being the large pages of a book. Often when I see these flowers, there will undoubtedly be a few tired, sun bleached ones. These ones, looked yellowed and aged. I can easily see the simile here and it certainly adds the imagery from the onset.

Carrying on with the image theme of flower pages. You introduce a fly. A simply, small, and quite possibly insignificant fly. But, what stems to my mind is, 'to be a fly on the wall', meaning to see what one is not supposed to see, but always is curious of. Or maybe, this fly is offering a new perspective? A chance to look back on a history and see the faults, perhaps?

I like the way evening replaces night, your wording here is 'tasty'. Can I say that? Yes, I think I can - tasty, like the desire of the next course causing the taste buds to swell in anticipation. Dessert, sir? Yes, you bet, bring me the whole damn platter, my good man!

Often, and probably too often, I read back through my work, looking at my creations. The further I look, the greater I cringe. But, the cringe worthy ones are worthy too. They remind us of our journey to where we are now. The thread on the discussion board '10 years' is apt, and I wonder if this has inspired this write. I know that I am curious to rework an old piece of mine. So, I digress so like me- lol) your poem, older ones have 'veins' of 'elegance' running through them, that have been ignored.' Yellow wording' this term of phrase is interesting. At first I thought it symbolised old words, but I am unsure now, maybe just words from a naïve time? Still, I like the word, yellow in this poem, as the yellow reminds me of the pollen from the magnolia flower. It's reason is to gift life, to pollenate to reproduce. Maybe, produce another poem from the yellow ashes?

^^Andrea, you must stop me, if I stretch my musings too far! lol

Lingering Ivy? This grows like a weed, climbing up and covering all it can cling to. Sometimes, like the ivy, we can bee too close to see what is right in front of us. A dying flower cannot be saved if no one can see it suffocating, or hear it crying out. Only once the ivy drops away do we see the fallout.

The evil raven flies in and the scene grows dark. Only this particular darkness is steeped in alcohol. The mixture is potent and dangerous. Looking back at previous writings from this difficult time still brings home memories and the reminder of sleepless nights in the aged marks bearing testament to a time lost, but no forgotten in the magnolia pages of life.

Like the ripened flowers on the tree, when one wilts, another will take its place. Like a season, Autumn will give way to winter, then to spring, and before we know it we live a new life again.

Excellent work Andrea. I am sure that I have strayed from your original intent, but I do enjoy being inspired by your words.

Take care,

Michael ((hugs)) x

Lol - if I am close then that is Kudos to you. Some writers are so oblique that the meaning is never known to anyone other that the writer - and sometimes, I am sure, not even them! lol

Damn you Michael.. You wrote exactly what I wanted to lol (just kidding)

What a beautiful image filled piece as always.

Em

Ivy lingers along a spine that was once broken
for man, refused to read the stanzas of a dying flower.

^^

Stunning, as is the write in general.

Take care, Maples

*nominated

Andrea, as always I am so in love with your writing. You have just that way that we are rewarded so richly with prose and visuals, all neatly tied in the form.of a poem.
I would love to see all the things that inspire you to write the way you do. This write has not disappointed, just beautiful with lots of food for thought. Well done!

Just wonderful.holy crap.

What a beautiful piece Andrea :)

Beautifully written as always. Milly x