The Throb of Life

Gum blossom hangs heavy with the beauty of the life force. This is Eucalyptus caesia, an extraordinary West Australian mallee growing in my garden.

23rd September, 2009

Woke early, socks off, and outside to visit the tree. Dark, wet, cold underfoot, the flow of water is endless. There is so much growth that I can’t use the stepping-stones – daffodil leaves obscure them.

So I go the long way round, through yarrow, and more daffodils, and shrubs hung low with the weight of blossom. I come to the tree and squat down. I feel no connection. I say my words, place the incense, and pour the water. The tree ignores me. Nothing. I stay and stay, feet feeling the sting of cold underneath. I feel the rain, I hear the birds of dawn, the breeze doing its rounds, I see the lush masses of leaves and flowers all around and I crouch there, part of it, nothing more, nothing less.

The tree doesn’t seem interested in me anymore, all this other throb of life is going on. She is involved and doesn’t feel me anymore.