The seventeenth Moon Prize on this magical Blue Supermoon full moon goes to Nonnie Augustine's probing and illuminating poem "Arrogant Magnolia" —backdating to the full moon of January 1, 2018.

ARROGANT MAGNOLIA

by Nonnie Augustine

the first to open all, poised ten feet above our fuss.

As far as she's concerned … well, she's not, is she?

Her splendor cows me.

On this Tuesday morning I feel aged, dry, critical, although

I've used my potions.

Lousy sleep. Awake at 4 a.m., 5, 5:30. Sweaty.

And I feel short.

"Arrogant" comes to us via Old French from Latin— 'claiming for oneself',

from the verb arrogare.

Soon the fraying, browning, finishing. Disarray happens.

An old record plays. Mother and nuns scolding:

"No one likes a complainer."

"Wipe that look off."

"Jesus suffered."

My sweet dog's done her business and here is the poor bloom (soon to die) again.

The magnolia deflects my murky sensibility. Flowers, leaves, trunks, weeds, grass—

all of it—brushes me off. Of course.

Home and somewhat smoothed, despite the visit from my scolds,

despite the niggling moans from death.

* * * * *

"Arrogant Magnolia" first appeared in Olentangy Review and it is part of Nonnie Augustine's new book, To See Who's There.