The Tree

The Tree

By Kenneth Poirier

There was a man once, not so much a lonely man as his life was fairly fufilling. Just a man like any other man, honest, trustworthy and sincere. He wanted so badly to have a big, beautiful tree in his backyard like all his neighbors. He dreamed of a huge tree with majestic branches reaching high into the sky, and dazzling green foliage. He knew exactly what kind of tree he wanted. When he walked into the nursery to find the perfect tree he saw it right away. He knew almost instantly that this tree would be the perfect tree, and would suit his house and yard famously. He knew he would give this tree all the love, and nurturing so that it would grow properly, and live a long vibrant life. He made a promise to the tree that he would always be there to tend to its needs.

He took great care bringing the tree home. He tilled the land around where the tree was to be planted, and he fed the ground with all the proper nutrients. He did everything that he was supposed to in order to make the tree grow, and flourish. It wasn’t long before the man saw new branches growing on his tree. He was overwhelmed with joy that he could nuture this tree enough for it to begin growing. Every morning he brought out his tools, soil, and nutrients. He tilled the soil around the tree, added new fresh soil and fed and watered his tree. He gave the tree all the love and tenderness he could muster.

As time passed the man fed and protected his tree, He gave it tender loving care, and the tree flourished. After its first cold winter, spring brought forth a tremendous amount of growth. The man could feel the trees spirit, and knew that they were sharing a growth bond that was gaining weight and commitment as time passed.

Unfortunately we tend to forget those first sparks, and how we felt at that precise moment in time when the bond first began. We tend to become complacent in what we have and forget the little things that brought the growth bond to begin with.

As the tree started into its second year it seemed to need less care and continued to grow. Little did the man know that although his beloved tree was still growing it required the past tenderness he gave it when it was younger for it to grow to its full potential. He forgot how much the tree responded when he pruned it, and took off the old dead leaves. He forgot how young and fragile the tree really was.

Then one day he came outside and the tree looked like it was dead. It was fallen over and wounded. It was at this precise moment that the man realized that he had neglected to give the young tree the proper protection and care that it needed to survive in this harsh world. The very protection and care he had promised to give it always. He cried for the tree, He cried for the loss, for the big hole that seemed to form in his heart immediately. Out of loss, and despair, and the love that the man had formed for the tree he began to feed the tree again. He dug out all the old soil around the tree and piled new fresh soil in its place. He added all the nutrients the tree could handle and he watered the tree every day.

Everyone told him it was a fruitless endeavour, but the man did not listen. He knew in his heart that the tree was still there and if he could only show the tree that not only was he deeply sorry for neglecting it in its infancy, but that his commitment is true and unwavering, maybe just maybe, the tree would again grow and flourish.

He never gave up because he could see the tree slowly responding. Even though all said it was his imagination he knew what he felt in his heart, and in the end he would have his beautiful tree again.

One morning at the dusk of winter the man rose from his slumber. He started his day, and gathered all his supplies and went to his backyard to start his labour of love. He looked up when he reached the tree, and to his wonderful amazement he could see a new branch beginning with bright new leaves starting to open up. The man smiled a smile he hadn't since the first day he brought the tree home.

The tree continued to sprout new growth, and the man continued to feed the tree new fresh soil, and nutrients. He trimmed the dead leaves, and pruned the new branches ever so carefully. He tilled the soil, and fed the tree nutrients every day.

In time the tree again began to flourish, and in no time the tree began to protect the man. On the hottest of days the branches would protect him from the sun and rain. In the winter the ever growing tree protected him from the wind and snow.

No longer did the man wonder if the tree appreciated his attention, and care. He could see in the way the branches reached for the sky, and the leaves were a deeper green than any other tree on the block. Soon his neighbors became jealous of his tree and wanted to know how he had grown such a tremendous tree in such a short time. They were baffled that a tree that was so close to death could now be the most alluring, and majestic tree on the block. They just didn’t comprehend how this could be.

He told his story of the tree, and how he brought it home, and cared for it. He explained how the bond between man and nature was unlike any other. It constantly needs to be nurtured and fed every day until one of you is gone and can no longer do it. This bond needs constant attention for it to grow and flourish as it should. He went on to explain that even if your tree looks healthy and is growing your love and tenderness will make it grow like no tree has grown before. As he finished they all walked to the man’s backyard, and in the quietness of the spring breeze you could almost swear that the branches of the tree were moving to protect those under it from the storm that must surely be approaching.

The man never forgot the lessons learned in those days. The things he learned changed his life forever. Even when the tree was well over 100 feet tall and most definitely the sturdiest tree around the man was still out there every morning rain or shine. He would till the soil, add new soil, nutrients and fertilizer. He would rake the leaves in the fall and lovingly prune the branches in the winter. He carried water every day, and poured it gently on the roots until the tree had drank its fill.

Untill the day he died he cared. Even when he was old and beginning to get frail he always had the energy to tend to his tree. Secretly he knew that the bond they shared is what kept him alive all these years, and for this he was grateful. The man continued to show the tree daily his appreciation for the trees companionship all those years. He always started his day nurturing his tree, tilling the soil, feeding the roots and pruning the branches.

On the day he died they say the man now very old and weak used his last strengths to bring his tools to the yard, and his soil, nutrients, and water. It was the man’s last wish as he knew he was leaving this world that his tree know how much it had improved his life. Even though he had done it every day for so long the old man began his labour of love, and as the last drop of water hit the roots of the tree the man laid down under the trees fine shade and went to sleep, never to wake again.

Although it is dismissed as a rumour or myth a story is told that when the man took in his last breath the tree in one final act of love and tenderness released all its leaves in that one second and covered the man in a bed of crimson and golden leaves, and that every year on the same day, and time the man died the tree majestically soaring into the sky would let go of all its leaves in memory of the man that first planted it there and gave it life.

The End