Two Poems by M.J. Iuppa

How Does the Magnolia Still Bloom in Late June?

For no reason, this mild weather
nurses our magnolia’s pink flowers
to bloom and bloom and bloom
among trim leaves, glossy and green.

Too often, May’s sudden heat curls
each petal until hundreds litter the lawn
like confetti melting in morning’s
light rain . . .

But this year, something’s changed.
Our magnolia refuses to give up
its frills, making us pay attention
to that tender Spring we’ve forgotten.

Persistent Dream

When summer’s fireflies light up the air, I 
stare and stare at phosphorous blinks, unable

to count the pulsing beats before they perish 
in the garden’s grave green shadows.

The day’s rumors have risen to temporal height. 
The full moon ripens to blood orange.

There are no mountains here—only god given 
violets growing in crevices of glacier indifference;

and Ontario settling into its core—gathering 
its strength to lift us all— feel it— water rising

rising to our upper lips— the thrill of going 
quickly, going without question, I do believe.

M.J.Iuppa lives on a small farm near the shores of Lake Ontario.  Between Worlds is her most recent chapbook, featuring lyric essays, flash fiction and prose poems (Foothills Publishing, 2013).  She is the Writer-in-Residence and Director of the Visual and Performing Arts Minor Program at St. John Fisher College.  You can follow her musings on writing and creative sustainability on Red Rooster Farm on mjiuppa.blogspot.com.