They say when we leave this world, the last thing we see is a brief recap of our time spent here. Having never had a true near death experience, I can neither confirm nor deny. However, should this be true, and were the idea extended to other living things, what would a it be like for a tree? I ask this because I recently learned of the passing of an old white oak that stood along the edge of a family member's property. Would it be a quick rerun of the seasons, like the time-lapse photography/videography taken from a single location? Would it show the clearing of the field, it's subsequent plantings over the last 150 years? How far back could it see? The age of the colonization? Iroquois nation? Sullivan's campaign? Would it get to see again hunters of Native American, settlers, and modern times - ranging from bow and arrow, to flint lock, to shotgun? The progression of farming practices starting with slash and burn, to horse drawn plow, to modern machinery? Would this rerun be peaceful or traumatic and turbulent?
I remember this tree going back a number of years. I am particularly fond of the memories I have of it capturing snow on it's outstretched limbs. It is a shame to see this old guard go. The final acquiescence to gravity must have been dramatic as there are limbs spread fairly wide, significant indentation on the ground, and twisted, broken limbs of wood that to touch and lift demonstrates considerable tenacity and heft despite being "dead".
No comments:
Post a Comment