July 10, 2009 10:49 am
A tree doesn’t shout out loud in pride about the strength and efficacy of its roots, but proves the point by its own majestic bearing, solid trunk, strong branches, green leaves, beautiful and colorful flowers and luscious fruits.
Sometimes its branches are cut mercilessly, but the tree makes a miraculous come back due to the strong roots it owns.
Sometimes a storm uproots a tree, the roots not having dug deep enough into the soil to support it.
Sometimes dead branches have to be cut away, and some of the overgrown branches trimmed, so the tree might grow even better.
Sometimes termites attack the roots of the tree, and the tree, beautiful and majestic as it is, falls anyway.
Sometimes when it is known the roots are rotten and the tree might fall endangering lives, initiative is taken and the tree cut down preventing a disaster.
Sometimes, cutting away of dead branches which might fall on passers by, kill or maim them is opposed vehemently, vociferously and foolishly by a few, putting everyone in danger.
Sometimes the decay of the roots is not yet known, or is known and turned a blind eye to, and the tree falls and kills those in the vicinity.
Yet, one thing can never be disputed.
The mightiest of trees un-attacked and with the strongest of roots digging deepest into the soil will find one day that those roots have decayed and rotted over time. When that happens the tree has to fall and die anyway.
There is no fighting Time. A tree is not forever. Nothing is forever. Not even with the strongest of roots.
You cannot try and prop up a dead tree. There is no use for it. No good will come out of it anyway. Time will have its way and should have its way whether we like it or not.
New trees will sprout in its place, will grow equally strong roots, look as majestic in its bearing as did the previous one if not more, and have equally solid trunk, thick branches, greenest of leaves, lovely and colorful flowers and luscious fruits.
In spite, we still cling to dying trees with decaying roots, prop them up artificially, even contaminating the soil in the name of preserving roots, never allowing new trees to be born, a new forest to grow.
If only there was more faith in Time and its ways.
© Shail Mohan 2009
Posted by shail
Categories: life
Tags: analogy, culture, lessons, life, questions, tree
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This is beautiful–a picturesque salute to nature–written with a deft hand and a keen knowledge of the “rules” of the outside world. These are concepts that many park rangers in the National Park Service labor to help visitors to the many parks across the United States to understand.
I see a beautiful poem waiting to be released from these thoughts
You’re still one of my heroes.
I would like to share with a few others. Could I post on my Multiply site with credit, of course. The poem, not the kudos
Talk to you later, my friend.
Thank you,
Bob
Me: Bob, you are welcome to link it. I am honored, thank you. Well Bob, did you notice the similarity to something else though??
By Bob Hoff on July 10, 2009 at 11:14 am
Shail, this tree and root story can be applied in many cases in real life too.
Yes “We still cling to dying trees with decaying roots, prop them up artificially, even contaminating the soil in the name of preserving roots, never allowing new trees be born, a new forest to grow”.
Very well conceived.
Me: Thanks Balvinder. I meant it in relation to life 🙂
By Balvinder Singh on July 10, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Shail, What an analogy! You have compared entire culture/language/nationality pride talk and superiority/inferiority complex using Trees and nature.
Only you could write it this way and so eloquently. One of the best reads ever.
Me: Bingo! 🙂
Thanks a lot Solilo. Perhaps you would like to go through this : The Blacks and the Whites with Grays thrown in…
By Solilo on July 10, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Brilliant post,Shail.You’ve summed up the essence of life in a beautiful way.
“A tree is not forever. Nothing is forever. Not even with the strongest of roots.”…so agree with you.
Me: Thank you Deeps! Glad you liked it 🙂
By Deeps on July 10, 2009 at 3:42 pm
The old order changes giving place to new,
this unfortunately is known to a very few,
the rest stick to the outdated like glue,
mostly they are the ones without any clue.
Me: 🙂
You said it Govind. There is nothing permanent except change.
By Govind on July 10, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Shail, out of all your posts I have read, this one is my favorite thought and post! I LOVE how you conveyed it so clearly!
“In spite we still cling to dying trees with decaying roots, prop them up artificially, even contaminating the soil in the name of preserving roots, never allowing new trees to be born, a new forest to grow.
If only there was more faith in Time and its ways.”
Me: IHM Thanks for popping in to read in the midst of your break! Sometimes something you read gives you an indea. This is one such that developed to a blog. Glad to have conveyed the idea though I have my doubts that some think it is about afforestation or something!! 😛 😀 Thanks again!
By Indian Homemaker on July 10, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I am coming right back to write:)
I LOVED it:)
and yes this has to be my fav too as IHM said and would also echo Solilo’s words:)
already told you I LOVED it:)
will be back ASAP:)
(((hugs)))
Me: Come right back! 😀 Hugs.
By Indyeah on July 11, 2009 at 12:03 am
If the roots are as strong as some say they are, then why constantly fret about being cut off from them so much?
Why this irrational fear?
A tree is not forever. Nothing is forever. Not even with the strongest of roots.
yes .. beautifully said..
Change is the only constant in life..why do we forget this most basic thing?
And why ARE we so afraid of change?
and to quote the lines that IHM loved too:)
n spite we still cling to dying trees with decaying roots, prop them up artificially, even contaminating the soil in the name of preserving roots, never allowing new trees to be born, a new forest to grow.
If only there was more faith in Time and its ways.
yes if only….
beautiful beautiful post Shail!
Me: Glad you think so Indy! ..and thanks!! 🙂
By Indyeah on July 11, 2009 at 9:55 pm
You have left me speechless with this one.. I have always been for change and not the one to cling to anything ..life is about change. when I wrote ‘The banayan tree’ i wondered how long its roots will support it and make it stand tall and what will happen when the grand landmark will decay and fall to ground. then I saw the tiny offshoot near it and instantly understood all;). thanks for this beautiful write up.
Me: That tiny offshoot is not thought of much by most I wonder why 🙂 It is always sad and unnerving to think of something we hold dear, are familiar with or have followed all our lives, will no longer be there. But then nothing is forever too. Thanks for dropping in and the appreciation 🙂
By tikulicious on July 12, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Beautiful post, Shail! I never thought when I saw ‘roots ..and trees’ title that, this thought could be expressed so beautifully. I had a doubt that ‘roots’ is not ordinary roots, when I saw the title.
You have covered each and every angle.
“The mightiest of trees un-attacked and with the strongest of roots digging deepest into the soil will find one day that those roots have decayed and rotted over time. When that happens the tree has to fall and die anyway. There is no fighting Time.
A tree is not forever. Nothing is forever. Not even with the strongest of roots.”
“We still cling to dying trees with decaying roots, prop them up artificially, even contaminating the soil in the name of preserving roots, never allowing new trees be born, a new forest to grow”
You are right. I am very fortunate to come across this post of yours and you, Shail!
Me: Glad you could get what I meant. I didn’t want to make it too obvious, so did not write anything more other than about roots and trees. Thank you so much for the lovely comment! 🙂
By Sandhya on July 13, 2009 at 11:10 am
That was such an apt analogy! Indyeah directed me here and I am so glad!
“We still cling to dying trees with decaying roots, prop them up artificially, even contaminating the soil in the name of preserving roots, never allowing new trees be born, a new forest to grow”
It reflects society so effectively, and beautifully!
Me: Thank you Smitha. I loved your post too where Indy left the link. By now you have seen my long comment too I bet! 🙂
By Smitha on July 23, 2009 at 12:56 am
[…] a helpful post, maybe I don’t have to choose. What an idea Sirj! So here are the two posts: (1) Roots and Trees (2) The Blacks and the Whites with Grays […]
By A tag and some blog love | Shail's Nest on April 19, 2013 at 10:54 am
A deepest analogy with human life. I am fascinated.
By Jas on April 23, 2013 at 10:42 am
Thanks for the comment, Jas 🙂
By shail on December 24, 2014 at 9:56 pm
I saw Smitha’s point of view when reading this, as many people still believe in living like the past to keep things the same. While we can still be able to preserve some things, we can’t keep everything as things will dye out eventually (ex: the lifestyle of people now compared to the last 2 decades). This is seen in very close minded societies who just do not accept or want change, which makes it difficult for younger generations who are living in that world. If you want to survive the current world, you need to accept that things are changing everywhere and your own children will be living differently than you are. Things can’t always be the same, plus life would be boring with the same routine ! :p. That’s why I’m in for going out and explore your horizons, you’ll learn so much, but many others won’t do that at all.
By J1289 on December 26, 2014 at 3:32 am
The summary of life never felt so beautiful. Good one 🙂
By 4 year old adult on December 26, 2014 at 8:35 am
glad that you actually payed attention to trees and roots,
of course, there are all kinds of circumstances around trees and flowers, or plants.
a powerful representation.
By Laynie Barbara Gosney Blecha on December 26, 2014 at 3:56 pm
Brilliant post, You’ve summed up the life in a beautiful way.Shail
By Vector on December 27, 2017 at 3:21 pm
Thanks 🙂
By shail on December 27, 2017 at 10:13 pm