Questions of “Y”
She
stands confident, commanding attention. Her thick trunk and branches are the color
of burnt umber. Her leaves are plentiful and range all shades of green. Her
bark crumbles in flakes. The top of her leaves feel like slick paper, while the
bottom is covered in a light fuzz. She smells like a fresh summer day. The
sound of her leaves blowing in the wind simulates the sound of the ocean. The
sound of singing birds that live in her comfort radiates from her medley of
leaves. Her natural beauty is far more commanding than the trimmed and
structured flower beds that surround her.
Her
impact varies based on perspective, and I think most people don’t take the time
to truly see her and all that she has to offer. From the air, I’m sure she’d look ordinary- like
a green blob. From head on, she appears somewhat average, although her stature certainly
stands out compared to those around her. She dominants the lawn of the resident
hall. But my favorite perspective is lying underneath her branches. It feels as
though you are seeing a shimmering glimpse of heaven. Her leafy canopy provides
the comfort of a blanket. The sun peaks through her branches and leaves to
produce the most striking hues of green, which brings a smile to my face.
The
most noteworthy view of lying underneath her protection is her questions of “Y?”
Her branches grow in the shape of a million “Y’s,” and as I lie there my eyes
are torn in a million different directions; looking at different shapes and
sizes of her questions. As my mind comprehends everything she evokes in me, I
find myself asking her all sorts of questions. I ask questions about why things
work the way they do, and why I have particular emotional responses to things.
I ask why she must stay in one place. I ask her the benefits of foundational
roots and free spirits. I ask if her living being feels just as connected to
things as I do. I ask her why I sometimes feel stuck in one place unable to
move and why that’s a bad thing. I ask her if she could be planted anywhere,
would she remain here? Although, I suppose the purpose of travel is to gain new
experiences, which she has certainty acquired over the generations of students
who confide in her wisdom and protection.
Her
being is ironic. She’s comforting and protecting. Yet, when I choose to lie underneath
her branches to feel comfort, I am stared in the face with questions of “Y?”
It’s as if she is questioning my thoughts and encouraging me to act. Her
questions of “Y” reach to the sky and another set rests below the ground. These
bundles of “Y” are connected by her trunk- the generator of questions and
perhaps the keeper of answers. Her trunk is a stump compared to others. Her
arms and roots that form “Y” dominate her being. The outline of her silhouette
forms a large “Y” and hundreds of little “Y’s” twist and stretch within her
frame. I wonder if is she curious herself? Or is she simply so wise that she
inspires others to think for themselves? I believe her questions are directed
at those who take the time to speak with and learn from her.
My
interactions with her are limited, though I try to visit as often as I can. I
sit underneath her canopy when I’m in need of a challenge or simply need to
reflect on my life. I find the comfort and challenge the perfect combination to
calm my nerves. Sometimes when I pass by
I find she is entertaining others, which warms my heart. I hope they find as
much of a friend in her as a I do. I hope they look to her for questions and
answers in their own lives. I hope they embrace the beauty of their
surroundings by looking to her for example. My favorite observation of her is
when I pass by and it’s raining. I imagine droplets seeping into the ground and
her reaching to drink the nutrients. I imagine the water trickling through her
branches and extending her arms in further directions. I know she is forming
more questions and will challenge me once again when I come to visit.
