Lifecycle of a Tree
Since the start of spring, the branches bloom. Being bared for a lengthy period, it gradually covers itself with greenery. Every year, with the same elegance and charisma. The leaves continue to grow bigger and better, occupying the space around and spreading fiercely. The birds return to their friend likewise, to visit often and to settle. Behind the blind, protecting themselves from climate and predators. The tree welcomes everyone with open limbs.
The tree has always been there, in front of my house. Since the day we moved in and 10 years from then still going strong and well. Guess it’s far older than I consider to be. Visible from my room, it peeps at me. Inactions, reactions, sees all of me. And I see it every day, Knowingly or unknowingly it includes in my life, as part of me.
As the season changes from spring to summer, the sun shines brighter, and heat increases. The tree stands tall, with a determination to not give up. Tolerates the pain and doesn’t complain, instead it serves the creatures with chilled shade. Nature has the nature of giving all and expects nothing in return. Days pass likewise, alike with the same story until the next season arrives. Then the story takes a new direction.
The sky gets cloudy, whitish, grey, or even black clouds overtake the sun and coats it. Providing the tree a moment of relief, a moment of comfort and joy. When the clouds release the water stored, and the first few droplets fall. Meeting the highest leaves in the branches, the tree gets chills. It dances in pure happiness, following the wind and waves. As the rain gets better and bigger, it completely moistens the tree, the first rain of the season. But not every day is like this time, the rain takes various forms; the environment changes likewise, so does the emotions of the tree. Lightning, thunder, and devastating rain all night, the tree stands trying not to break-down and harmed. And when the sun shines the next morning, it looks at the scene like a naïve kid.
Finally, it gets time to rest, a moment of relief. Everything happens normally. The tree breathes fresh air and power naps. As it wakes up in between the interval, it sees the surrounding getting green and then golden. It surprises the tree that the people are scattered in the field chopping the small trees. The tree saw the same people planting them, each time a different one and they destroy it and come up with something distinctive. Being ridiculously tall and with the inability to bend, has a prejudice that you can’t connect to the smaller ones. At least it’s happy that it ain’t going nowhere.
If only that was all true, but partially. As the season change, the tree grows older and falls. The leaves continue to change from green to yellow; they get delicate and let go of the branch. As the leaf falls off the branch, floating in the air, following the direction of the wind and lands nearby. The process remains until the last leaf in the tree leaves it alone again, keeping it vulnerable. The Tree feels ugly, broke, and rejected, no birds want it anymore, and they also leave. It has nothing to offer anymore.
The Tree slowly accepts itself after a long conflict of the self-worth, the tree likes it. The solitary it enjoys itself. The tree defines it as a phase, and it will go away. As the season ends again, and the new buds grow again, covering it all, regaining the beauty. It will again spread the branches taller than before and robust. Welcoming its buddies again, with an open heart. This time ready for all the changes in season, it’s emotions and the determination to keep up this year and hope they don’t chop it off.
