The magnolia’s drenched us in their scent for an entire summer.

I wouldn’t call it trespassing, but down the hill past List Lane Park, I swore I saw the willow trees smiled. We’d hang on their branches as they held us close. Watched sunlight break through their openings like a kaleidoscope.

I promise this was some type of magic, because the magnolia’s shattered through swampy waters just to meet us. They said hello and we filled our pores with the sweet scent. Your mothers call would carry us home- how we wished stay and bloom like the flowers. Maybe a part of us did.

That was long ago- back when we did sloppy cartwheels in backyards that weren’t ours. Treehouse secrets. You’re siblings laughter. It’s all a force that I can’t comprehend, but I feel it. The growing pains reach me in quiet spaces.

The other morning as I was sitting on my porch- I looked back at the trees and thought about our forest. My laughter carried in the breeze. Felt my the pangs in my chest from those memories. Closed my eyes and magnolias drenched me in their scent.

-AMT ©️