Pieces of Me: The Monkey Tree

[ellyssian]

Thousands of years before the dawn of history,
Ancient races tears are flowing like a river to the sea,
Where sacred river ran,
White deer had roamed the land,
Brilliant twilight in our dreams.

Fates Warning - Damnation

Even before the days - quite recently, as far as such things go - where I could tell trees apart, I relished and essentially worshiped certain trees, even if I didn't realize it at the time.

On the Oakley Country Club, just up hill from the club house, was one such tree: The Monkey Tree. The Monkey Tree did have, at its heart and core, a single impressive tree - of what variety I have no idea, and last I looked it had been partially or wholly removed.

The Monkey Tree, however, was not *just* a tree, and I say that with the understanding that, say, champion sequoias Generals Sherman and Grant, are *just* trees - it was multiple trees, shrubs, vines, and the remnants of a metal framed observation tower. A wall of stone, and then a wall of yews or arborvitae provided a screen from the wackos who lugged around heavy bags or puttered on silly little carts. They didn't often approve of us - something about the cost of their memberships, and that their intended use of this beautiful landscape was more important than ours.

The tower, which was simultaneously held aloft and being dismantled by a series of thick, wooden vines and some smaller deciduous trees, was a short distance from The Monkey Tree itself, connected by the vines that draped from the massive boughs of that mighty tree. The Tarzanian vines - some eight inches in diameter or more - formed swings in gentle loops and allowed one to traverse the area without setting foot on the ground.

It was a shrine. For me, it tied in not only the beauty and power of growing things, but, perhaps more importantly, it showed what would happen to frail, manmade things over time.

For as long as I can remember, I had wished for enormous wealth - the primary goal of which would be to purchase the country club, my city block, or whatever land was at hand - and allow it to revert to nature.

To watch the concrete and asphalt crack and crumble, structures overgrown with green, like the tower in the grasp of The Monkey Tree...

Primitive child, your unforgotten tribe calls to you.
Descendents we are one, the tangled maze is broken once again.
A myth without a meaning,
You shade the light from the seed.
The earth and virgin soil, watch it bleed.

Fates Warning - Damnation

Comments

[opakele.livejournal.com]

"For as long as I can remember, I had wished for enormous wealth - the primary goal of which would be to purchase the country club, my city block, or whatever land was at hand - and allow it to revert to nature."

This has been Nightsky's dream, except, he wants to be far, far away from people.

The house in Federal Way (that burned down) he never mowed the lawn. The lawn was hillocks and hummocks of grass, grown tall and bent over. He still goes out to the property and prunes trees and make note of the growth of trees he's planted.

His place in Raymond is the same. He mowes paths because it makes going for walks easier, but we quit mowing the place years ago.

I never started out being a natural lover, but I've grown into it. I think it was part of growing a brain after you turn 30.

I like Monkey Trees, too. There are a couple around here and you just have to stare at them. They are amazing.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

I really wish I had taken a picture of the place early on - it kind of declined a bit in my high school years, which probably helped lead them to removal of it.

Yeah, I think I'd definitely get along well with Nightsky - one form of the "plan" was to buy the state of Maine and kick everyone else out! (of course, I'm still a wee bit short on cash for that goal =)