Roots-Trees & Migration Page 02

Reflections on Migrating and on Adapting to a new Country

« That is what migrations and relocations do to us : when you leave your home for unknown shores, you don’t simply carry on as before; a part of you dies inside, so that another part can start all over again ».
( The Island of missing trees by Elif Shafak )

The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

Making the best of where I live.

Making the best of where I live,
like a newly transplanted tree, it withers, and its leaves turn brown.
It’s trying to make sense of its strange environment, adapting to weird insects,
to unknown birds, hearing unfamiliar voices, feeling different winds and
getting used to its own roots touching other roots.
Doing its best to keep on living while tolerating exotic butterflies on its leaves.
getting used to the weight on its delicate branches
of a sort of squirrel that looks more like a rat, that is very agile and has no wings
but soars momentarily in the air going from branch to branch.
Acclimatizing itself to the stillness when there is no wind,
Imitating the other trees who seem dormant, in some
sort of meditation, absorbing light and producing chlorophyll, cleansing the air,
patiently fighting pollution, adapting to climate change while sustaining
heavy rains. Hearing the roaring river down below, almost overflowing because of
the torrential rains from up the mountain, waking up to bird songs, sheltering nests,
tolerating the snake encircling its trunk.
Every tree has its own life.
It seems to be alone, but below the surface of the earth it is connected to all the other trees.
It seems to be alone, but below the surface of the earth it is connected to all the other trees.