A Father Tree

I am a tree. This was the day, so many years ago, I ruptured the seed coat I was in and broke open the surface of the earth. Was it a struggle? I don’t know! I found joy in that.

When my fellow plants were getting cool breeze and soothing rains, I was there, peeping out of the dry soil, looking at the sky, calling the unseen clouds. Nothing happened. I realized, I will die if I stay there. I told myself ‘If clouds don’t shower in my place, I should move to the place where it rains.’ I tried, tried and tried hard. I learnt crawling; crawling turned into walking. I walked fast. I walked far. I chased the clouds of opportunities.  I chased until the clouds showered on me. Was it a struggle? I don’t know. I called it an experience.

Although I had learnt migrating, I am a tree, after all. I always felt that bonding with the soil of my birth. I knew my sibling plants still lived in that torrid, dry soil. I knew they would die if they stayed there. I showed them that they could move too. I shared my legs. I created a path for them to reach the land of clouds. They were watered. I sacrificed my nutrient youth. They grew big. Was I tired? Did I stay behind them? I don’t know. I did what I ought to. I had many other roles to play. I am happy.

Thousands of student plants grew under me, looking up to my shade. I shared my shade. I taught them how to be shade for so many others when they grew up. Today, I have my thankful student trees spread as a huge forest. Am I happy? I don’t know, but I am surely content.  

In the process of growing old, I gave my partner and child branches what they wished, from what I could give. I gave them what is good for them and what good they can do to others. Will I die one day? I know, I will not!