How do you say goodbye to a tree
One that has sheltered you from the sun
Whose roots have mingled with the the earth
Communicating through fungus to other trees
Whose leaves absorbed water, touched the sky
A tree that’s lived it’s life interacting
with everything and everyone around it
How do you say goodbye to a tree
Whose anchored presence calmed you
Who was home to insects, squirrels, birds
Who embodied the interdependence
of all life, giving and receiving
How do you say goodbye
Maybe you don’t,
Instead seek to embody
the tree’s giving and receiving
Learn about your interconnection with all life
And maybe, with love and gratitude,
Plant another one.
(The Pin Oak was diagnosed with Bacterial Leaf Scorch in 2015. It lasted longer then they predicted. We kept pruning the dead limbs until we couldn’t anymore.)
Beautifully written, Barb. And with an apt conclusion to live by.
Nice. Very nice. And FWIW, other trees will often do what’s necessary to keep a stump alive, sometimes for decades. So maybe the pin oak isn’t really gone yet ….
Plant another and have the stump removed
Beautiful tribute, Barbara!
That tree served you well! Now find something creative to do with the stump!
Your neighbor might have a sapling from the tree. Or acorns you could plant
Have you checked your flower beds for oak saplings. I just pitted one from mine
Potted