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A Tree Falls

January 21, 2023 22 Comments

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When a tree falls, forest creatures assemble in silent vigil—an ancient act of homage and respect to their dying comrade who provided shelter and sustenance for generation after generation of their kin.

They wait and observe for days or weeks until the tree relinquishes its grip on the soil and tumbles into decaying leaves, and merge with the forest floor.

Should people approach, however, the mourners flee and hide, having guarded their ceremony from human eyes for countless millennia.

The sound that each tree makes or fails to make as it hits the ground remains the greatest secret of all.

By Stan Sweeney

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tim Goldstone says

    January 21, 2023 at 8:51 am

    Brilliant. Absolutely perfect.

    Reply
    • Stan Sweeney says

      January 21, 2023 at 9:42 am

      Wow. High praise indeed. Thank you so much for the comment, Tim. Genuinely appreciated

      Reply
  2. Kathy Carroll says

    January 21, 2023 at 9:44 am

    Beautiful and poignant.

    Reply
    • Stan Sweeney says

      January 21, 2023 at 10:06 am

      Thanks, Kathy

      Reply
  3. Cathryn says

    January 21, 2023 at 11:10 am

    Hello Stan,

    Excellent tie-in of the title and the ending utilizing a familiar saying.
    My only suggestion (although I noticed most readers do not add a critique) might be writing “in-the-moment” for a more dynamic feel; the narrative seemed to me somewhat dryly expository–this style does the reader a disservice as you have a wonderful flair for descriptive writing.

    Reply
    • Stan Sweeney says

      January 21, 2023 at 11:51 am

      Hi Cathryn. Thanks for the comment and suggestion. Will take it on board. Guess part of the constraints of writing to such a tight word count is choosing the style/voice/mode – certainly something to keep in mind for future efforts

      Reply
  4. 2912 says

    January 21, 2023 at 1:43 pm

    A beautiful tribute to the negligence of nature.

    Reply
  5. 2912 says

    January 21, 2023 at 1:44 pm

    intelligence not negligence

    Reply
    • Stan Sweeney says

      January 22, 2023 at 1:50 pm

      Thanks 2912, appreciate the feedback

      Reply
  6. Kevin says

    January 21, 2023 at 3:10 pm

    Superb. Reminds me “A day in the life of a tree” by Brian Wilson on the Sunflower LP. Kudos

    Reply
    • Stan Sweeney says

      January 22, 2023 at 1:51 pm

      Wow. High praise indeed. Thanks, Kevin – that means a lot to me

      Reply
  7. Tom Baldwin says

    January 21, 2023 at 5:29 pm

    That is beautiful, Stan. It describes the reverence we should have for nature, but so often don’t.

    Reply
    • Stan Sweeney says

      January 22, 2023 at 1:52 pm

      Thanks Tom. Agree – nature most certainly deserves reverence and respect

      Reply
  8. Scott Bogart says

    January 21, 2023 at 7:14 pm

    Hi Stan! I quite enjoyed this one.
    And didn’t feel I was done any disservice by your choice of style /wording. Apparently the editors thought it was fine as well.

    Scott

    Reply
    • Stan Sweeney says

      January 22, 2023 at 1:53 pm

      Thanks Scott. Noted & appreciated!

      Reply
  9. Miera says

    January 22, 2023 at 6:33 pm

    Lovely! Enjoyed the topic and the narrative. There is a tragic beauty to this piece.

    Reply
    • Stan Sweeney says

      January 24, 2023 at 2:54 am

      Thanks, Miera. Appreciate the feedback

      Reply
  10. Gilda Candela says

    January 25, 2023 at 8:08 am

    Thanks Stan. Somehow I feel like I’ve waited for this piece all my life. The forest has always been my favorite. The breath of trees has always felt like a gift. We can’t live without them. Some of us know that.

    Reply
  11. Jennifer J. says

    January 25, 2023 at 4:43 pm

    Beautiful!

    Reply
  12. Eunice Amero says

    January 25, 2023 at 5:25 pm

    Yes, I agree. Good thought and story.

    Reply
  13. DAVID HIGHAM says

    January 26, 2023 at 5:58 am

    Beautifully told.

    Reply
  14. Yogita says

    January 29, 2023 at 10:44 am

    Beautiful. Coincidentally I am right now in a forest and we sighted a majestic tiger today (apart from other animals like deer, bison, etc). Could relate with the story

    Reply

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