Essence of Life - A Story Woven in Wordmongering

I lean against her and feel her pain. I feel her unshed tears for the planet. She whispers to me of times gone by, of days that she was worshiped, of days that she was celebrated as life giving. My tears flow down my cheeks unbidden. I listen to her stories, knowing that I may never be able to hear them again. Her voice becomes weaker as I strain to hear every last word.

“Stay with me to the end.” She pleads.

“I won't leave you." I promise. 

She is sagging further into the ground, I know it won't be long now. Long, she has lived such a long time but it wasn't meant to be this way. She was meant to live so much longer. If only, so many if onlys too many to count.

My back aches from sitting so long but it is nothing compared to her journey into death. I wonder where her spirit will go. Will it go to this place called heaven, will it go to this place called Summer land, or is there another place, or will she just disappear? My heart aches for her.

I look up placing my hand on her, wishing my essence into her but knowing it is too late to do any good. I close my eyes to rest just a bit. I know it will be some time still though not long.

I dream of her essence swirling with mine; beautiful lights entwining dancing together. It is so beautiful I can barely look upon it; too beautiful to even imagine yet here it is with me, in me, around me. I feel her love, her sorrow. I know that she wishes things could have been different but she knows what's done is done.

My eyes open with tears running down my cheeks. I saw her in her original form, in the days when she was full and strong, with life running through her. My hand traces her lines, loving her with the very fiber of my being.

“Goodbye sweet mother, Goodbye sweet tree of life. I will miss you. I will speak of you and the stories that you have shared with me. I will not let you be forgotten. Your stories will be told by my grandchildren's grandchildren. Go with peace.” 

I looked up and I could visibly see the tree sag further as her essence, floating up and out, leaves this place forever. I stand and slowly begin to move around the tree, beginning to dance, remembering our time together. I repeat the stories in my head to never forget. Humming softly I turn and spin around the tree chanting the song of the tree of life. Weaving the mysteries together the air is charged around me. The ground beneath me comforts my feet. The air caressing my body. The sun beats down upon me as I look up high into the sky, I can just barely see a swirl of color, as she leaves this plane entirely.

“Goodbye sweet one you will be missed.”

The link to the picture that inspired this story.