Among trees

Posted by Dave Bonta on January 2, 2008 (last modified at 9:17 pm, 1/2/08)

Lorianne has assembled a rich array of links at Festival of the Trees #19. Go look.

red maple from above

This morning I spent some time sitting in a tree. It was cold, and the views were mostly of other trees. I felt like a fly at a rather dull cocktail party. The only conversation I could hear was between a dead tree and a live one about twenty feet away — a shrill squeal. Perhaps it was really more of a seance.

tracks

As I looked down at my own footprints leading away from the tree, I felt a sudden pang of what can only be described as pity for the rootless sprout that made them. A strong gust of wind set my tree to rocking, and I gripped the hand-rail of the hunter’s tree stand. Heeeeeeee, said the dead one.

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5 Responses to Among trees

  1. Peter says:
    January 2, 2008 at 11:22 pm

    This is quite fun! I love the first paragraph, and I love “. . . my own footprints leading away from the tree . . .” Seance or out-of-body experience?

    Reply
  2. marlyat2 says:
    January 3, 2008 at 10:22 am

    Mystical and naked Walt, pondering your sprout and dead-but-speaking tree:

    The smallest sprout shows there is really no death,
    And if ever there was it led forward life, and does not wait at the end to arrest it,
    And ceased the moment life appeared.
    All goes onward and outward, nothing collapses,
    And to die is different from what anyone supposed, and luckier.

    Reply
  3. mermaidate Seery says:
    January 4, 2008 at 9:23 am

    Ents whispered around you protection for this feeble sprout – they sensed the sap in your veins was good.

    Reply
  4. dale says:
    January 4, 2008 at 4:53 pm

    (o)

    Reply
  5. Dave says:
    January 5, 2008 at 3:29 pm

    Thanks for the comments, y’all. Marly, I’m afraid I don’t agree with ol’ Walt about that (or much else, actually).

    mermaidate Seery – Welcome!

    Reply

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