The Island of Missing Trees

by Elif Shafak

Time is a songbird, and just like any other songbird it can be taken captive. It can be held prisoner in a cage and for even longer than you might think possible. But time cannot be kept in check in perpetuity. No captivity is forever.

Time is a songbird, and just like any other songbird it can be taken captive. It can be held prisoner in a cage and for even longer than you might think possible. But time cannot be kept in check in perpetuity. No captivity is forever.

I still carry the island with me, though. The places where we were born are the shape of our lives, even when we are away from them. Especially then.

humans not seeing trees was filmed at the TED Countdown