Large petals of soft pink and bold red,
A magnolia is a flower of beauty splendid,
Fresh fragrance into the air does spread,
Presenting a picture, delicate and vivid.

Many a admirer does a Magnolia find,
From hardened soldiers to blushing brides,
Symbolising  a respect of the highest kind,
A regal bearing in delicate form it hides.

A magnolia, though looks dainty and frail,
Its magnificence its strength belies,
Much like a woman, who shall prevail,
A warrior, whose place the world denies.

Poetry form for the day - Irregular Ode (characterized by irregularity of verse and stanzaic structure and by lack of correspondence between parts. — called also pseudo-Pindaric ode or Cowleyan Ode)

The painting is "Magnolias" by Alexander Deruchenko - is an illustrator and concept artist, based in St. Petersberg, Russia and who graduated in 2006 from the Russian Academy of Art. I simply love the above one.