(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .



I Wish To Be A Tree. [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags']

Date: 2022-11-07

It’s the eve of the mid-term election and all through the house every creature was voting, even the mouse…

I’m at the point where there’s nothing else I can do but wait for the election results- so I grow reflective.

I live in Germany and I’m getting old. I’m not, I think, at the end of my journey but the sun that lights my way is closer to that western horizon than it is to the dawn. A lot closer. So, a person thinks on it, don’t they? How do you want to go? Well, there’s no reall controlling that. What would you like your final words to be on your headstone- how do you wish to BE after that final, corporeal step is taken? As a pagan, a tree hugger, as a man who has always been drawn to the forest before anything else, I’ve found what I’d like when my time comes.

I want to be a tree.

Looking at the laws for burial here, where I live and will most likely die, I see that they have now instituted cemeteries where you can grow to be a tree after you die. A seed is placed in your ashes and planted. That, or your ashes can be placed below a living tree in the forest that you can pick.

I’ll be honest, were I to be in one of my more acerbic moods when I pick a tombstone saying, well, it would probably not be what I’d like to show the world forever, not really. Why have a tombstone anyway? My wife, my children, maybe a grandchild, maybe- they would remember and might visit my grave. But after that, here, it would be more of “Oh, look, a strange name, he must have been a Brit or an Ami who died here!” and people would pass on- you’re still forgotten. I don’t visit graves, I stop, quite often in my day, and remember those who are gone. But I don’t visit graves. Life is for the living, I feel.

But, the poet in me feels that if I am cremated and a portion of my ashes is mixed into the soil that will then take a seed- if it is planted in the sacred Earth that I love and grows, roots into the soil and branches to the heavens high, then I will grow with it.

I imagine that, over the years, people may come and sit below it, or perhaps, birdsong will enrich the evening air from my branches, putting smiles on faces unseen. I feel, when the bees come and I shed seed, that I will spread across the land, a little. Become as eternal as all of us truly are.

I’d like it to be a willow.

Well, again, the pagan in me says, pick the oak, but that’s too fine for me, the king of trees, no. that’s not Kell. There’s the smooth skinned beech, shiny fingers stretching toward a century or more of full moons and sunny mornings- a beautiful tree for sure. The cherry tree, whispery clothed birch or the hard souled maple. There are so many, all wondrous, but to me, the willow has always sang a certain song.

As a boy, there were a few ancient willows down by the river and they were special, I could go inside the hanging curtains of green and find peace from all the things that I didn’t understand as a child. It was a happy sanctuary.

I would like to think other people would find that same peace below my hanging fingers- perhaps sit awhile then take a deep breath and leave again to their tasks, refreshed and smiling- thinking of how they’d like to come back one day.

I like to think that.

Tomorrow is a new day, one that will bring much excitement and, I hope, much celebration for all of us here at Dkos. You are friends, all of you, no matter how we sometimes argue, fuss and fight- which is why I’m here tonight musing with you- I’d like my friends to know.

When the excitment is over for me for good.

I wish to be a tree.

Good luck to all of us tomorrow!

Kell

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/story/2022/11/7/2134284/-I-Wish-To-Be-A-Tree

Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/