I heard a rustling as I lay in bed reading late the other night. A swishing, hushed sound reminded me of noises heard in the darkened backstage of a ballet as dancers hurriedly swept by one another their satin tutus brushing.
The light of day revealed the source of rustling as trembling leaves that slid past the branches of a neighboring tree and continued downward bringing with them our hopes of hanging onto our dying oak tree for one more October.
This tree has stood proud sentinel at our house since 1931. It has shaded us and others from the heat of the day and served as base for games of hide and seek. Like a resolute palace guard it managed not to flinch even when draped in ribbons of toilet paper following a teenage prank.
As much as I dread the thought of cutting it down, this mighty oak is much too dignified to continue losing great chunks of itself until it finally falls.
There is a sting that accompanies the demise of the grand oak, an acknowledgement that time for each of us is fleeting and finite.
a story in eight lines
Awwww! What a beautiful old tree!
ReplyDeleteWe had a HUGE pine tree that my 4 kids used to climb up and hide in when they were little. The branches were so full I sometimes couldn't see them when I knew they were there. It got mangled by the bugs that went through our area a few years ago...now sits a lonely stump and an empty place in my heart.
I (finally) followed behind you at Kat's link up.
You get it! It is one of the family! But it needs to come down in a controlled fashion rather than in big chunks and pieces.
DeleteSo sorry to hear of your impending loss. I agree it fits the tree's dignity to take it out all at once rather than watch it decay slowly. Trees are one of God's great creations - so much beauty and shelter. I'm glad you got to enjoy it for so long ....
ReplyDeleteMe too! Cutting it down feels like the end of an era, and I suppose in truth it is, but such is life.
ReplyDeleteSo sad to let a beauty like that go!
ReplyDeleteI know, but there is no turning back at this point.
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