Why The Willow Weeps

Why The Willow Weeps

Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a beautiful park in a sunny valley. In this park there were three Willow Trees. In those days the Willow was a proud tall tree, its strong limbs outspread. It stood with its branches cheerily swaying in the breeze. Two taller Willows grew either side of the smaller tree where they had grown happily for many years.

The land owner had looked after the sunny valley for a long time but as he became older he had to sell the park and a new owner came along who decided he needed a river where boaters could glide in slow, tranquil waters.

Then woodsman came and cut down one of the two taller Willow trees. The younger tree looked on, helpless as workmen diverted the river so that it bent around the younger tree's feet. The young Willow Tree, its branches once stretched out now, saddened, hung its fronds down into the water.

Then a carpenter came along and built a bridge over the river. Now the park owner wanted a path over the bridge so the Woodsman cut down the remaining tall Willow to make way for the path where the tall tree had once stood.

Now the young Willow tree wept as its branches dipped into the dappled shade of the slow moving waters. The boaters on the river admired the beauty of the young Willow, its soft fronds hanging into the dappled shade around its feet and, just occasionally, the wind sighed in its branches.

Now all Willows grow with their soft fronds hanging down and weep into the water in memory of the Willow that wept.

Originally posted 12/7/2016

Barry Stebbings

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