A Tree

The study at home, where my beloved works, has a bland view into a fence, but, rising high above the fence line a spectacular Gum tree (Eucalypt?) can be seen. Many birds make their home in this majestic tree. It sways to its own rhythm as the life forms that live on it lead their lives. It is prime real-estate for the local birds, its hight and breadth are not surpassed for many hundreds of meters.

During the tornado six or so months ago many trees in the area were destroyed or badly damaged. The birds, of which there are many, are still competing for limited space.

I know my partner spends many hours staring out the window in search of inspiration as she formulates great treaties on saving the flora in our part of the world. In essence her job is to save the trees from a microbial parasite. Saving them from human action is also part of the deal, but only as a vector.

My little patch of suburban sprawl has a limit on the minimum size a housing lot can be. This has left it largely unscared by urban infill. Nearly all the lots around us are, only just, too small to be cut in two for two houses to be built. Most of the neighbourhood has large back yards and the odd big tree is left to push proudly into the sky. This works rather nicely for the birds.

Now, two doors down, a clever chap has convinced his neighbour to collude so that their two “just too small” blocks can be combined then split to create three housing lots. I can’t blame or condemn them – it makes financial sense and suits their circumstance.

This is where the tree comes in. It is in the back yard of the house closest to us and right in the middle of a proposed lounge room. Most of the block has now been cleared except the great tree. It has been damaged in some fatal way by the clearing activities on the block. The leaves are yellowing and dropping away. The birds know there is a problem. Arial dog fights and angry calls are now regulalry witnessed from our study window. This is the price for progress.

Perhaps this note will serve as the only eulogy and epitaph for the tree but it will be missed by many.