All around me are short shrubs with purple stems and waxy leaves.

我周围都是矮小的灌木，它们有着紫色的茎杆和光滑的叶子。

They have very strong, sturdy, waxy leaves that are rolled up so tight, they look like needles more than leaves.

它们有非常强壮、结实的蜡质叶子，卷得很紧，看起来更像针而不是叶。

Surely the loveliness of the long miles of magnolia bloom was more important to the living than the selling of the bronze, waxy leaves for funerals of the dead.

对生者来说， 绵延数英里的玉兰花的美丽肯定比为死者的葬礼出售青铜蜡质叶子更重要。