Opinion: Death of a Tree

The majestic old pine near our house that I first thought was being trimmed was being cut down. Sad to see its life ending while it was still so vibrant and enjoying life.

I’ve been reading about how much we never knew about the plant world, that trees and other growing things are connected through their root systems and try to help each other in times of stress. A whole ecosystem underground sustains itself through the preservation of all the life within it — laceworks of fungi mycelium, worms aerating and cultivating the soil and microorganisms breaking down matter into usable molecules and minerals.

Clear-cutting a forest and ripping out all the growth destroys eons of biological goodness that keeps the land healthy.

Trees do react to stress and attacks on their systems, and alert other surrounding plants of possible attacks that may affect them. (Disclaimer: I am no scientist, so take all this as you may.)

I was thinking about how this must feel to a tree that can feel its surroundings and can feel adverse effects to it. It would be like me being secured somehow, not being able to escape a situation. At first it is just a toe being removed, then a hand, maybe later an arm and much more as parts of me slowly disappear, away into nothingness.

This is happening right now to all of us, to our shared democracy. First it’s one small little thing, not much of a distraction and life goes on. Soon it is more parts being removed and we stand still in disbelief. Each day more and more of our rights and things we thought sacred and true are removed.

We do nothing, there is no motion at all. Perhaps some mutter, under their breath, “Please stop.” In a very short time, none of this will matter. Democracy will be just a stump to be dug out at a later date.

John King is an artist and writer, alive and well in Eureka.