Spruce and Aspen

Spruce and Aspen
By Kyle Holub
Headwaters
September 21, 2018

Spruce lies on the ground as seed
with Aspen root nearby.
They made an agreement
with all the forest beings and Time as witness.
“We will have a great race, to surface,
to altitude, to seed, to death.”

The race began as Aspen surfaced first.
It spread roots, and Fungus helped it along.
Spruce found a crevice that Rock provided
and Rock funneled water to its roots.

Years passed as Spruce and
Aspen grew together.
Conditions favored Aspen some years
and favored Spruce other years.
As the size of their bodies increased,
so did their proximity.

Their roots met first and intertwined.
They strengthened each other
and shared the resources they had been provided.

Their branches reached out to embrace
each other, and they valued the game they created.
It provided much entertainment to the forest beings.

They celebrated each other’s successes,
empathized in times of hardship.
They became symbiotic siblings of separate species.
They shared a similar view of the valley and
river below, quietly discussing the goings on
of their friends and relatives.
When Squirrel built her next in the higher
branches of Spruce, she would climb both Aspen
and Spruce to get to her home.

Their bond grew, and they would lean on each other
when wind was strong.
Spruce became diseased with beetles under its skin,
and tried to hide it from Aspen
to spare her the sadness, but Aspen knew.
because she felt it too.

Aspen gave resources and strength to Spruce
but Spruce grew weaker each year.
Spruce cried sap and felt pain,
and Aspen hugged him tighter.

Spruce died, and Time laughed
because the wonderful game had ended.
Aspen lost the game and her competitor.
He still stood next to her, and she would
still lean on him when wind was strong,
but no longer could they discuss the goings on.

Aspen still lives, but now Spruce has fallen.
She looks to the valley and river
and remembers the game they played.

She asks Time how long she will have
to live without her friend,
but Time was too busy and never answered.