Thursday, 16 September 2010

In Relation to Tree (and Thee)

 Ash (Yggdrasil)
I can look on (a tree) as a picture: stiff column in a shock of light, or splash of green shot with the delicate blue and silver of the background.
I can perceive it as movement: flowing veins on clinging, pressing pith, suck of the roots, breathing of the leaves, ceaseless commerce with earth and air - and the obscure growth itself.
I can classify it in a species and study it as a type in its structure and mode of life.
I can subdue its actual presence and form so sternly that I recognize it only as an expression of law...
I can dissipate it and perpetuate it in number...
In all this the tree remains my object, occupies space and time, and has its nature and constitution.
It can, however, also come about, if I have both will and grace, that in considering the tree I become bound up in relation to it. The tree is no longer It. I have been seized by the power of exclusiveness.
Martin Buber (1958) "I and Thou", pp. 19-20)

20 comments:

Rune Eide said...

Just make sure that the brown slugs now raising their heads in Sweden don't come and get it! :-)

Jenny said...

Oh, Yggdrasil! I love it. I was sad when they cut down the tree in Gamla Uppsala that many people claimed was THE Yggdrasil. :(

At least I managed to take a few photos of it before that happened.

All the best to you,

Jenny

ANNA-LYS said...

Rune
Got your point! :-D
A pair of scissors would be enough to get rid of slugs in the garden. Unfortunately the brown slugs that are marching in the urban area already has lost their heads, but they are still marching - only back to our former welfare and not voting on them this Sunday ... will minimize the brown (nationalists) slugs on our streets.

ANNA-LYS said...

Jenny
Ohhh that was very sad to hear. I did not know that they have cut down Sweden's oldest ash, terrible news!!!

Our world-tree Yggdrasil is no more *tears*, let me guess, did they build MacDonald there, or a Free-way, or what was more important than the tree??

Hanneles bokparadis said...

Träd är viktiga och ger ro och får en att må bra. Jag gillar både parker och formklippta formella trädgårdar.

dianne said...

Trees are a living species of beauty and wonder, they give us so much, they should be revered.
xoxoxo ♡

PJ van Zyl said...

best thing to do with a tree is to sit in its shade

Jenny said...

I managed to find an article about it: http://www.unt.se/uppsala/trad-vid-kungshogarna-togs-bort-1001098.aspx

They claim that the tree was partly decaying. That statement is confusing because some days before it was cut down, Yggdrasil looked alive and well with plenty of leaves. It came as a shock!

As long as it is standing why cut it down, I wonder... They could have built some sort of supporting fence around the stem, if there were safety issues involved.

It would not surprise me if they build a McDonald there instead! Arrrghh!!

ANNA-LYS said...

Hannele
Gillar du bara tuktade träd?
Jag älskar urskogen mest av allt och det är det gott om här, tackochlov.


Dianne
That is true Dianne. I wonder what kind of trees grows in Your country?

ANNA-LYS said...

Pete
That is what I call philosophy in practice! lol


Jen
Thanks for the url-link. I read it, and I think the reason "security" was bs. Meaning I agree upon Your idea about fence or maybe some kind of scaffolding coz the tree was old and tired in his/hers arms. Was this a democratic decision, or was it the community gardener that was tired of keeping it fresh. Next step is to chop the heads of our old people when they need help and care - but, we change that ON SUNDAY :-D

((hug))

Charles Gramlich said...

I remember when I was a kid growing up lonely on the farm. Trees were my friends.

ANNA-LYS said...

Charles
They still are, aren't they?

Anonymous said...

beautiful,
lovely anna-lys

trees & recent posts here

LOL at "brown (nationalists) slugs"

<3s to you

¤ ¤ ¤

/t.

ANNA-LYS said...

/t.
Thank You, You flatter me like only a real code poet can ;-)
<3 <3 <3

laughingwolf said...

excellent!

enjoy this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TZCP6OqRlE

Uncle Tree said...

"The tree is no longer It." Nay. It's me! :)

Nice one, Anna. I love family shots, and this bro is famous. Nice to meet you! Cheerz, UT

Gary said...

Yes, if I have 'will and grace' this can happen.

Me? I love trees...in all shapes and sizes and especially with sunlight splashing between their leaves and branches. Oh, and when they sway so beautifully in the wind, like dancers in a dream...

darkfoam said...

i love trees. in the town i live in there was a 300 year old oak tree in the center of town. around 1990 a wind storm blew it apart and only a broken stump was left. it had become weak. in it's place a new oak tree was planted and the place is now protected. i mention this because i read the comment about the Yggdrasil tree.
i hope they don't build something obnoxious in it's place!

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