Random Act of Metaphor: Old Man Pine Reaching for the Sky

Hmmm, can a crippled pine tree teach me to live with grace and gratitude?

I live on a small court that funnels off into four, high-rise apartment buildings. From my 18th floor view, the court looks a bit like a miniature Indy course adorned by clusters of maple trees with a few pines interspersed among them.

The maples are handsome this time of year as the leaves begin to rust signaling that fall is edging closer. But it is one of the pine trees that most captures my imagination. This particular pine is rather misshapen. The trunk parallels the ground for several feet before gracefully arching upward toward the sky.

I have no idea what caused it to grow in this odd configuration. But it seems obvious that it fought against fate to survive. It rather resembles an old man with bowed back proudly shouldering a load as he trudges along.

There are days when I feel akin to that pine tree. The weight of life can be a ponderous burden at times. But the pine endures season after season and inspires me to do likewise.

Old Man Pine with the weight of the world on his back gracefully reaching for the sky – a random act of metaphor to remind me that life wasn't meant to be easy. Victory won in overcoming hardship is what builds the character that carries us through life's storms.

~ Michael Robert Dyet is the author of "Until the Deep Water Stills – An Internet-enhanced Novel" – double winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards 2009. Visit Michael's website at www.mdyetmetaphor.com or the novel online companion at www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog. Visit www.smashwords.com to download a free preview of the e-book version.

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