Treespirit [Flash Fiction]
The trembling aspen watched from a distance as the sharp teeth of a chainsaw cut cruelly into the weathered bark of the old sycamore. Trunk was reduced to stump; branches, to twigs. Sawdust bled onto bare ground before being borne away by the cold caress of winter zephyrs. Nearby, grey smoke puffed out from the chimney of the cabin, curling towards the heavens, and the aspen knew the time would soon come for its own spirit to dance on the east wind.
82 words
This story by James, of Powered by Robots, inspired me to take part in this week’s Friday Fictioneers challenge, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Field.
I went in the opposite direction to James, and saw something grim in the fallen tree. You can read other stories for the prompt by clicking the frog. The picture is copyrighted to Rochelle Wisoff-Field.
Very evocatively penned.
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Evocative picture of the circle of life.
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It’s a moving piece told from the aspen’s POV. The last few lines of chimney smoke and dancing on the wind really gave a sombre but peaceful acceptance of death.
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Thanks, Fatima! 🙂
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Lovely story and beautifully told
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This is a wonderful take… the voice of the tree, knowing well what the end will be.
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Gorgeously-written and very sad tale of the end of a life. Love the images your words evoked!
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Welcome to Friday Fictioneers, Spaceman. I really loved your take on the prompt and will pop round to read James’s contribution in a minute.
I particularly loved this line, which was so beautifully written and provided a sort of hope for the tree: “the aspen knew the time would soon come for its own spirit to dance on the east wind”.
Well done!
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Thanks for the welcome, Rowena! I think trees are probably wiser than many humans. If only they could talk!
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I love listening to the dry Autumn leaves chatter in the wind before they fall. Perhaps, they are talking but it is us who do not understand. Given humans’ track record on so many fronts, I’d say it’s more than likely.
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Some great personification here. Loved the story.
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Thanks, glad you enjoyed the tree’s POV!
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So sad to see its end coming and know there is no way to stop it
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Beautiful writing! =)
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Thank you, Brenda!
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Beautifully written! Poor aspen.
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Oh, the poor Aspen! Beautifully written.
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Thank you, Clare 🙂
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Beautifully written. I feel for the poor aspen, though, watching the chainsaw coming ever closer.
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Thank you! I, too, feel for the aspen. Trees are the most vulnerable beings on the planet; unlike animals, they can’t run away from danger.
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Trees are people too 🙂
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They certainly are! Thanks for reading
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all things must come end. if anything, he’s a realist.
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Eloquent and brief. It doesn’t get better than that 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂
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Trees have feelings too, don’t they? Delightful.
Click to read my FriFic!
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Loved the voice in this piece, Spaceman. Nicely done.
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Great metaphor. Yes, must all dance on the wind one day.
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A time comes when all must bow to the inevitable, but maintaining a balance is crucial, the aspen may except its fate if it’s young are allowed to grow. I was pleased you gave the aspen a voice, and so made us picture the scene and think.
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Glad you approved, Michael!
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Loved this story told from a tree’s perspective. Beautifully done.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you, Susan!
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Welcome to FF, Spaceman! Always nice when another’s work entices us to join in…
And a good one you did tell.
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Thank you, Dale! I do enjoy writing drabbles, so hopefully I’ll get chance to participate in more, and take a look at everyone else’s stories too. 🙂
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That’s how it works! We try to read and comment on each other’s stories. Makes it more of a family. We each reciprocate as much as we can. And we all improve as a result!
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You’ve written that elegantly and beautifully, Spaceman. You capture a little of the mystery of human existence with your words.
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Thank you, Penny, I’m glad you liked it.
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What a sad situation, knowing what’s coming and with no option but to accept fate. That’s a relatable tale for a few things other than trees too. Nicely done.
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Thanks, Iain, and I agree—there’s a certain grace in accepting the inevitable 🙂
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Love the idea of a story written from the tree’s perspective. There was some very beautiful writing in this.
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Thanks! 🙂
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…but where’s your story?
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My story is the thing you just read 😛 James’ story is at the link in the post.
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Man you’re getting poetic!
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I like to think I do better with less words to work with. Makes me really think how best to use each and every one. Give me a ten thousand words and I’ll just ramble semi-coherently. 😛
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LOL! I get it!
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Thanks for bringing this into my consciousness Urban!
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That was really quite moving. There’s something about the concept of a tree having a sentient side.
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Thanks – I like to think about how trees would feel 🙂
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Dear Spaceman,
Welcome to Friday Fictioneers. Glad James lured you in. I enjoyed this piece.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. I’ve enjoyed reading James’ stories for Friday Fictioneers for a while now, and finally thought it was time to join in the fun (when time and circumstance will allow) 😉
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Mine’s here. 😉 https://rochellewisoff.com/2018/01/31/2-february-2018/
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I’m honored by the shout out, Spaceman. Thanks. Yes, the spirits of trees dance on the wind like smoke and ashes.
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