Each tree stands independent and yet completely dependent on one another for means of survival. Like human civilization being built on both cooperation and competition, the mighty oaks attempt to protrude their bystanders, fighting to sprout their hands ever so slightly ahead of one another. Almost as selfish as the Homo sapiens.
Their roots grounded in the soil, anchoring them to their place in this world, holding their core and giving rise to the observable exterior. Perhaps they are just as influenced by the outside community as humans, unconsciously shaping and guiding them in seemingly ‘natural’ ways.
Controlled and uncontrolled elements, shaping the great oak like a potter molding his clay.
Biotic factors, digging holes into the bark of their shell, leaving them as empty as a bullied child.
Wind, swaying them this way and that, changing the direction of their leaves like that of someone shooting for the moon, falling, and missing the stars.
Rain, leeching the nutrients from their once strong roots, leaving them like a child without their daily glass of milk.
Cloudy days, rendering their ecological processes short of the daily budget, eating away at the individual cells forming each leaf— like that of an adult’s brain being slowly overtaken by a monstrous disease.
Water, with the purpose only to scrub ourselves clean, transport our waste and hydrate the soils in front of our houses – not for the benefit of the flora, but to ensure our neighbours can see just how green our grass can be.
Soil, to be manipulated and damaged for means of extending urbanization far past its limits.
Plants, with the purpose to be genetically engineered for the benefit of the community, having no true understanding of the species which we attempt to control.
The green of the oak leaves are vibrant in the summer months, however fall to the ground during the fall, and are snow-covered before anyone truly notices the loss of colour. The growing of new leaves during the spring, leads one to believe that the vibrant colour is both natural and presupposed. To the outside casual observer, the leaves remain a vibrant green. Those that fall to the ground are brushed away and forgotten as new buds form. The complex interaction between the leaf and the wind is swept aside as it lands and becomes yet another part of the path under the foot of man.
The mighty oak, once again the prisoner of a sapien’s world, dominates only when compared to other flora creeping at the foot of the Mother tree. The hierarchical status of the Motherly oak within the forest, being discredited as just another tree amongst many. The oak is the central heartbeat, keeping the rhythm of the forest in line. The powerful ignorance of mankind, tempting their axes at the heart of the Mother oak, with the power to throw off the balance of the forest with the mighty strike of their weapon.
If only they were to take a step back and acknowledge the harmony and beauty of the community preceding them. If only they gave respect and honour to the Motherly oak like they would to their own Mothers, raising them from young saplings. Imagining the newly grown trees as members of the working society, interacting with each other in the same cooperative and competitive way. Seeing the land as less of a commodity that we own and more of a community to which we belong.
Ecology has shaped the social environment that we live in, influencing the ‘natural’ behaviours that we unconsciously become a part of. Aside from the beauty and harmony, the land has given to us civilization as if it were an obligation written in stone. And yet, how do we repay? By cutting, by disrupting, by taking and by never thanking. Above all else, we dominate, leaving what remains under our feet as if it is our birthright to walk over the natural world and not alongside it. We declare - our home and native land - as we beg God to - keep our land glorious and free. These are merely empty words.
The land is overall believed to have only one function…to serve. Circling back to the Mother oak, standing tall amongst other members of her community and yet small in the unnatural and inevitable dominance of mankind.