'Mother and Child'

By Celestial Sailor

Great gatherings of low-lying grey cloud smother the office buildings and engulf the smaller houses below, overlooking a glorious and reflecting lake before them. A skeletal apparition obscures the beauty of this sight; as steel scaffolding taints the ground beneath it and bearing the weight flimsily arranged. Construction workers push themselves furiously to compete with their demands of a new high-rise building, banter and argue, while some ponder and stand subdued by the beauty of something far more substantial.

The leaves of an ancient tree dance melodiously with the moist breeze, almost hypnotically, as they allure me to their will and freedom. Mother Tree stands tall and defiant with her glossy jade leaves, though releases an aura of calm and nurture as she shades the sapling beneath her branches. Her Child awakens and reaches toward the glorious sun, mostly filtered by the protection of Mother’s leaves, as to preserve the moisture of the silt and delicacy of the Child’s tender leaves. She shares her ageless treasure of nutrient-rich soil, thick and golden, with the great sheets of moisture carried by the lake, to promote her Child into the preserver of a great treasure, and purifier of the earth. Mother instructs by sipping the great syrup in her vast, wrinkled roots and gently releasing trickles of nutrient upon the base of the Child.

Like a spider spinning a fresh web of protection over a child, Mother stands ever defensive of her kin. However, she remains with the knowledge that her Child will one day learn how Father, the earth, is to be truly appreciated and loved. Days will pass and lessons are taught, many in practicality, and rarely in theory – as those in theory are but engravings deep into the flesh by outlanders who are void of compassion and scribble messages of profanity. Mother groans in the sound of cracking branches to reveal the gash of a chainsaw that once penetrated deep into her veins and forced hereto bleed the syrup of the soil, precious and beloved. Child watches in awe at Mother’s much experience, silently wishing for the day he will be thereat protector of the earth.

She groans in appreciation of Child’s unconditional appreciation, and extends her branches further with freshly grown leaves to shelter Child from the rays of the sun. Mother watches as Child learns and grows, watch the human world around him transform into many things and learn to value the beauties he shares. If Child could communicate with the human world; there would be many things she could say – especially an invitation to those with pure hearts and intent of true love to display their engravings lightly and gently upon his bark exoskeleton.

Mother and Child may never know me, may never hereof my compassion for their sharing, though will live endlessly in the knowledge their efforts never go astray, and will perdure despite all obstacles. If only the human world knew, that perhaps trees have parent and child bonds just as we do, and should be treated just the same.