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 | Blogs > gowerboy > thoughtsfromtheedge > Untitled. |
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gowerboy
4/13/2008 2:07 pm |
When we first see the boy he is sitting in a tree, watching the sun go down. This is not the first time he has seen the sun set since climbing the tree. He has been in the tree for three or four days now. Hunger and thirst have both come and gone, as have the villagers. The shepherd had been the first to find him, on the second day. “There you are, lad. The whole village is looking for you. Get yourself on down now, come on. Are you listening to me? What’s the matter, cat got your tongue?” The boy made no reply. The shepherd left and came back with the local policeman. “Alright, sunshine. That’s enough messing about. You’ve had your family sick with worry. They’re on the way now, with the rest of the village. Quite a commotion you’ve caused. Let’s not make things worse. Down you get, and we can go and talk about this inside. Have something to eat and drink maybe, you must be famished.” The boy gazed at the sky in silence. Shortly, the other villagers arrived. “Son? Can you hear me, son? It’s me, your father. Stop this nonsense and come down. You’re needed in the fields, we’re already behind with the harvesting as it is and time’s running short. Do you hear me? Don’t make me angry now, son. You get yourself down here this minute.” A woman stepped forward and laid a hand on the man’s arm. “Son? What’s the matter, eh? Why don’t you want to come down? You can tell me. It’ll be alright.” For the first time, the boy looked down at the people below. “I don’t want to come down, ma. There’s nothing to come down for.” “Your father needs you in the fields, son. Won’t you come down for him?” “He’ll get the harvest in, ma. Like he did while I was a child. He don’t need me, ma.” “But one day that farm will be yours, son. Who’ll get the harvest in then, eh? You just going to leave those fields go wild?” “Someone will farm the land, ma. There’ll always be someone. It doesn’t have to be me. Someone will buy it.” “Then come down for me, son. Come down for your ma who loves you more than she loves her own self. Won’t you do that for me, son?” “Do you love me now, right at this moment, ma?” “Of course I do, son.” “Won’t you carry on loving me, whether I’m in this tree or not?” “Of course I’ll carry on loving you, son.” “Then why come down, ma? If you love me wherever I might be, why come down?” “Because if you love your mother, son, you’ll do it to make her happy. That’s why.” “But, pa. If you both love me as much as I love you, won’t you let me do what makes me happy?” “Sitting in a tree, starving to death makes you happy? You must be mad.” “But that’s just it, pa. I’m not mad. I know I’m not. I just can’t see any good reason to get out of this tree. I’m happy in this tree.” A young woman stepped out of the crowd. “And what about us then, my love? What about our plans to be married and have children? What about us?” The boy was silent for a moment. “Do you want to be married and have children, or do you want me?” “I want you.” “And why do you want me?” “Because I love you.” “Would you still love me if I stayed in this tree?” “How could I love someone who would rather be in a tree than be with me?” “Then you don’t love me. Not really. You are in love with your plans for the future. If you truly loved me, then you would love me wherever I am. You’ll find another to love. If you had said you would love me even if I stayed in this tree, then I would have come down. But not now.” The village priest was next to speak, “What are you looking for, my son?” “A good question, father. What is anyone looking for?” “We are all looking to be happy in the world, my son.” “And where is the world, father?” “The world is down here, not up there.” “But from here I can see the world, father, and I am happy.” “You are happy to just see the world and not be a part of it, my son?” “Yes, father.” “But that is not what God wants for us.” “Then what does God want for us, father?” “God wants us to be happy in His world.” “Then why is there so much unhappiness and discontent in this world, father?” “Because we do not know how to live in the world as God wants us to.” “And why is that, father?” “Because God gave us free will.” “So to be happy, I must submit my God-given free will to the will of God?” “Exactly.” “A peculiar arrangement, wouldn’t you say?” “We cannot know the mind of God, my son.” “Then perhaps God wants me to be in this tree, father.” “Do you pretend to know the mind of God?” “No, I don't. Do you?” At this the priest and most of the villagers had left the boy in his tree. The boy’s family and his betrothed had stayed on, but no amount of pleading, tears, anger or threats had been enough to move him, and in the face of his silence, they too had gone back to the village. Days and nights pass and the boy’s strength begins to ebb away, but still he remains in the tree. As he watches the sun go down behind the hills, the branch he is sitting on gives a loud crack. He sees that a split in the wood has opened up between where he sits and the trunk of the tree. The boy gets carefully to his feet. The branch holds. He looks at the darkening sky and smiles. The sky does nothing except become almost imperceptibly darker. From where we are standing we see the boy spread his arms and close his eyes. The branch gives another crack. We are not close enough to catch him when he falls. |
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4/13/2008 4:45 pm |
This is really cool, Esop has got nothing on you. Oh how I wish I had the boy's will power. I'll just stand on a shrub until I grow bigger cajones.
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4/13/2008 7:26 pm |
so does he die? and all hope with him??? 
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4/13/2008 9:46 pm |
Ponders this tale and can't help but think that if that had been my son up there I'd have started THE countdown and he'd be on the ground before I even got to 5. That, or gone up to the tree and nagged him ragged til he went down just to have some peace and quiet. But to just sit down there and watch my son waste away? Heck no--I'd shoot him with a tranquilizer dart if I had to. Sorry if I can't help being practical (and meanie) mom. (Ponders what noone would do with bigger cojones, too--heard they just get in the way anyways) I'm dyslexic. I scream Ho Dog instead of Oh God in the throes of passion.
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4/14/2008 4:15 am |
Hummm....well, here I go again with a different perspective. The boy really understood what love is. It is exceptance and letting go. Everyone wanted the boy to do what 'they' thought was best and not necessarily what WAS the best for the boy. The others were out for personal gain. Real love is being there even when the person is making the worse possible decisions. It is letting the person go out on their own. Parents have the hardest time letting go. They want to protect the child for all harm. There is a point when this protection becomes the harm. Real love is knowing when to have your say then stepping back and allowing the person to be free. If the others had really loved the boy they would have been there to support him. They would have been close enough to catch him when he fall. Later, Mickey  Never take life seriously. No one ever gets out alive anyway.
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4/14/2008 5:02 am |
Why was there nobody climbing up the tree to figure out what kind of happiness the boy was enjoying? Perhaps communication can be better made when you are of the same level of horizon. Please don't let the boy die! Your new profile picture looks pretty cool  Agnes
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4/14/2008 5:09 am |
Why did no-one get up into the tree with him...try to see from his point of view? Argh...isn't conformity a Godawful thing!
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 4/14/2008 5:54 am |
Now.. isn't that life.... even though we have the power to make our own choices we cannot change our fate.
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4/14/2008 8:47 am |
The view is better higher up. Peace .. elaine67
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4/14/2008 9:32 am |
Great story
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4/14/2008 3:59 pm |
I agree with Mickey. I have gone through such a trial as a parent. Keep love in your heart ! SL
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4/15/2008 12:40 am |
honestly i didn't read the whole story don't ask me why coz im a little blind
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4/15/2008 3:38 am |
This is really cool, Esop has got nothing on you. Oh how I wish I had the boy's will power. I'll just stand on a shrub until I grow bigger cajones. It's been two days and I still can't get rid of that image.
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4/15/2008 3:39 am |
so does he die? and all hope with him???
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4/15/2008 3:42 am |
Ponders this tale and can't help but think that if that had been my son up there I'd have started THE countdown and he'd be on the ground before I even got to 5. That, or gone up to the tree and nagged him ragged til he went down just to have some peace and quiet. But to just sit down there and watch my son waste away? Heck no--I'd shoot him with a tranquilizer dart if I had to. Sorry if I can't help being practical (and meanie) mom. (Ponders what noone would do with bigger cojones, too--heard they just get in the way anyways) Parents. Where would we be without them? (Yeah, nowhere, I know). As for bigger cojones (de oro), I think further research is needed.
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4/15/2008 3:47 am |
Hummm....well, here I go again with a different perspective. The boy really understood what love is. It is exceptance and letting go. Everyone wanted the boy to do what 'they' thought was best and not necessarily what WAS the best for the boy. The others were out for personal gain. Real love is being there even when the person is making the worse possible decisions. It is letting the person go out on their own. Parents have the hardest time letting go. They want to protect the child for all harm. There is a point when this protection becomes the harm. Real love is knowing when to have your say then stepping back and allowing the person to be free. If the others had really loved the boy they would have been there to support him. They would have been close enough to catch him when he fall. Later, Mickey being there to pick up the pieces. It would depend on the relationship, I suppose. Parents have to let go at some point, but would a husband or wife (or equivalent) be able to watch their partner make the worst possible decisions if it affected them directly and still be there at the end? Thanks for the comment.
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4/15/2008 3:49 am |
Why was there nobody climbing up the tree to figure out what kind of happiness the boy was enjoying? Perhaps communication can be better made when you are of the same level of horizon. Please don't let the boy die! Your new profile picture looks pretty cool (That boy never dies, he keeps popping up in my head all the time).
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4/15/2008 3:54 am |
Why did no-one get up into the tree with him...try to see from his point of view? Argh...isn't conformity a Godawful thing!
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4/15/2008 3:55 am |
Now.. isn't that life.... even though we have the power to make our own choices we cannot change our fate.
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4/15/2008 3:56 am |
The view is better higher up.
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4/15/2008 3:56 am |
Great story
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4/15/2008 3:58 am |
I agree with Mickey. I have gone through such a trial as a parent.
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4/15/2008 3:59 am |
honestly i didn't read the whole story don't ask me why coz im a little blind
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4/15/2008 11:52 am |
“So to be happy, I must submit my God-given free will to the will of God?” I fully intend on using this line over and over throughout my life. Thanks for boiling it down so well, Gower. You're totally worth the read, every time.
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4/15/2008 11:59 am |
At times our fate is just a snap of a twig. Perfection Isn't Sexy
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4/15/2008 6:30 pm |
A little blind? Even though you brought your whole head with you today? only for today like GB new hair style
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4/16/2008 1:00 am |
Loved this story Gowerboy. It made me think about my own life in the last years. I've lost some friends because they couldn't, or were not willing to understand what I was doing. To them what I was doing was something out of the ordinary. In some ways it felt like sitting in a tree, enjoying the view, being completely happy and having to defend myself for sitting in a tree.....The end of the story? I think when the boy spread his arms they turned into wings....and he just flew away to a tree with an even better view! Great story, really enjoyed it!!!
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4/16/2008 7:32 am |
“So to be happy, I must submit my God-given free will to the will of God?” I fully intend on using this line over and over throughout my life. Thanks for boiling it down so well, Gower. You're totally worth the read, every time.
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4/16/2008 7:34 am |
At times our fate is just a snap of a twig. a monstered forest, it's a fate that might be worth fleeing.
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4/16/2008 7:35 am |
yeah a little blind only for today like GB new hair style Only another 20 years.
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4/16/2008 7:36 am |
Loved this story Gowerboy. It made me think about my own life in the last years. I've lost some friends because they couldn't, or were not willing to understand what I was doing. To them what I was doing was something out of the ordinary. In some ways it felt like sitting in a tree, enjoying the view, being completely happy and having to defend myself for sitting in a tree.....The end of the story? I think when the boy spread his arms they turned into wings....and he just flew away to a tree with an even better view! Great story, really enjoyed it!!!
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4/16/2008 6:33 pm |
I think I would have went up that tree myself and talked with him to find out why it was so important to him to be up there. Of course I have all sorts of things I think I might do when faced with something like this but it's hard to say. Some may say it doesn't matter but to me it does soooo, I am just gonna ask: What was the age of this boy? **loved this story!!!**    Expect The Unexpected
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4/16/2008 6:38 pm |
Hey dude nice blog,thanks for poppin mine and for the welcome Pola Yours, Pola
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4/16/2008 7:44 pm |
I'm trying to grow my hair as long as yours. Only another 20 years. lol
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4/16/2008 10:18 pm |
But when the snap of a twig comes at the dead of night in a monstered forest, it's a fate that might be worth fleeing. or the darkness of, the monstered forest. I have a flash light. Perfection Isn't Sexy
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4/17/2008 5:35 am |
I think I would have went up that tree myself and talked with him to find out why it was so important to him to be up there. Of course I have all sorts of things I think I might do when faced with something like this but it's hard to say. Some may say it doesn't matter but to me it does soooo, I am just gonna ask: What was the age of this boy? **loved this story!!!** of him, but he can't quite see what the point of it all is, and so he decides to climb the tree and take a look at what there might be. It comes to us all at different stages of our lives. Glad you liked the story.
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4/17/2008 5:36 am |
Hey dude nice blog,thanks for poppin mine and for the welcome Pola Thanks for visiting
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4/17/2008 5:37 am |
hahahaha im planning to cut this and donate to Balti lol
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4/17/2008 5:38 am |
I'm not afraid of the snapping of twigs or the darkness of, the monstered forest. I have a flash light.
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4/18/2008 6:58 am |
hey pal just dropping in to wish you a gigantic weekend bro straight from the heart 
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4/18/2008 8:30 am |
hey pal just dropping in to wish you a gigantic weekend bro
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4/18/2008 9:12 am |
Okay, I am back again Clearly, I am drawn to your story Gower and it has stayed with me over the past couple of days...so I returned to read it again. I am a bit confused and torn...personally. This is what gets me. My reaction here, or I should say my reactions. I find myself seeing and dealing (for lack of a better word) with this boy in two very different ways. As a parent or as a concerned friend/villager/on-looker. As a parent: I know I would do whatever it took to get my child out of that tree...up to and including climbing the tree myself to fetch him down...and yes, kicking and screaming if I must...especially if he was young. Sometimes, being a parent isn't always pleasant and "tough love" decisions must be made and carried out. However, if by some change this just wasn't possible, or if he returned back up that tree, I know with certainty, I would NEVER leave him there alone...be he 4 or 14!!! I would do my best to find out and try to understand the "why" in all of this. As a concerned person: I would talk with the boy and try to find out what is in his heart and head and why being up in that tree for days is so important to him. Of course my intention would be to have him come down. Not to be a hero...but to offer help and prevent him from getting hurt. Would I eventually leave this boy's side if this was not possible? Honestly...yes. I would have to for the sake of my family and other responsibilities. But...I would do whatever I could to see if the village and family could take turns staying with him so he is not alone. I can't imagine simply walking away without a backward glance or care. In either case, my heart tells me I would be there, in one way or another, to offer help, lend an ear, give advice...talk...whatever...and to make sure someone is with him...to catch him should he fall or to hug him should he come down on his own. Sorry for the lengthy reply this time. Expect The Unexpected
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4/18/2008 9:52 am |
Okay, I am back again Clearly, I am drawn to your story Gower and it has stayed with me over the past couple of days...so I returned to read it again. I am a bit confused and torn...personally. This is what gets me. My reaction here, or I should say my reactions. I find myself seeing and dealing (for lack of a better word) with this boy in two very different ways. As a parent or as a concerned friend/villager/on-looker. As a parent: I know I would do whatever it took to get my child out of that tree...up to and including climbing the tree myself to fetch him down...and yes, kicking and screaming if I must...especially if he was young. Sometimes, being a parent isn't always pleasant and "tough love" decisions must be made and carried out. However, if by some change this just wasn't possible, or if he returned back up that tree, I know with certainty, I would NEVER leave him there alone...be he 4 or 14!!! I would do my best to find out and try to understand the "why" in all of this. As a concerned person: I would talk with the boy and try to find out what is in his heart and head and why being up in that tree for days is so important to him. Of course my intention would be to have him come down. Not to be a hero...but to offer help and prevent him from getting hurt. Would I eventually leave this boy's side if this was not possible? Honestly...yes. I would have to for the sake of my family and other responsibilities. But...I would do whatever I could to see if the village and family could take turns staying with him so he is not alone. I can't imagine simply walking away without a backward glance or care. In either case, my heart tells me I would be there, in one way or another, to offer help, lend an ear, give advice...talk...whatever...and to make sure someone is with him...to catch him should he fall or to hug him should he come down on his own. Sorry for the lengthy reply this time. both do you credit. Part of what being a mother or a friend is all about but because the boy is in the tree doesn't mean he is unhappy. Just the fact that he is doing something out of the ordinary is enough to make people automatically think there is something wrong, and that is not the case. He's in the tree and he can't see any reason to come down. All the reasons he is given are based on the concerns of others. He might be being selfish, but so are the others in their reasons for him to come down. As others have said here, letting a child go its own way, and make mistakes, is one of the hardest things in the world. The boy is not a child any more, but neither is he quite a man (in the sense of what everyone expects a "man" to be; taking his "place" in the world). In one version of the story, the villagers drag him from the tree and force him to go back to the village, work the farm and marry the girl. But I didn't want it to have such a sad ending 
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4/18/2008 10:49 am |
Thank you for your compliment. I have never, nor will I ever, deny the intensity of my emotions for they burn strong within me. Always have and always will. Now to answer again and I hope I am not muddying your post. As I said, your story affected me. I agree with everything you had to say. I didn't get the impression the boy was sad. Clearly "something" motivated him up that tree and kept him there. For whatever reason. Was it free will, was there some other driving force, did he himself know what brought and kept him there, did he want company? I would still be curious as to "why" he is in the tree for days. What is he feeling, what are his thoughts...what perspective is the tree giving him? That sort of stuff. While being up a tree does seem unorthodox, I see it no differently than someone else closing themselves in their home for days...because that is where they choose to be. I've done this myself. I am not a big fan of "bending ones will" to suit my own. Even with my kids and trust me, as a parent, this is no easy task. To raise my kids to be independent thinkers, to take accountability for their actions and to accept there are certain standards/laws/rules one must conform to...as sucky as they may be. And yes, it is ever most difficult "letting go" and watching my kids make mistakes. But this is life and some of the best lessons learned are those we gained through personal experience. I stress the importance of communication. So simple yet so difficult for some. Often times, simply by letting a person know "why" you said/did/or are doing something makes all the difference in the world. The difference of being supported and understood as opposed to being met with scorn or indifference. I find it validates the feelings of others and they can walk away knowing my choice was not with any ill intent toward them...simply my choice and my right to life my life. I wonder if the boy/man-child were to have said his reasons for being up in the tree would have made the difference. Perhaps even he didn't know but he still could have said this as well...saying I will come down when I feel the time is right. Who knows what moves us to do some of the things we do. Was there selfishness in this story? Yeah, kinda...but with all parties involved and not necessarily for the wrong reasons. Most of us want what we want. We work for it, put out the effort to get it, seek clarity, make it known (mostly) and sometimes bitch about the obstacles in our way. The key is, how we go about getting it...and recognizing not one key fits all locks... I am sooooooo glad you did not write the "other" ending version of this story. It would have pissed me off and it wouldn't have given me this opportunity for introspective...into myself and the minds and wills of others around me. Okay, I'll leave ya alone now lol. About time huh Expect The Unexpected
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4/19/2008 7:25 am |
You like Rainer Maria Rilke?  It's nice to be insane when No one is looking 
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4/21/2008 4:55 am |
Thank you for your compliment. I have never, nor will I ever, deny the intensity of my emotions for they burn strong within me. Always have and always will. Now to answer again and I hope I am not muddying your post. As I said, your story affected me. I agree with everything you had to say. I didn't get the impression the boy was sad. Clearly "something" motivated him up that tree and kept him there. For whatever reason. Was it free will, was there some other driving force, did he himself know what brought and kept him there, did he want company? I would still be curious as to "why" he is in the tree for days. What is he feeling, what are his thoughts...what perspective is the tree giving him? That sort of stuff. While being up a tree does seem unorthodox, I see it no differently than someone else closing themselves in their home for days...because that is where they choose to be. I've done this myself. I am not a big fan of "bending ones will" to suit my own. Even with my kids and trust me, as a parent, this is no easy task. To raise my kids to be independent thinkers, to take accountability for their actions and to accept there are certain standards/laws/rules one must conform to...as sucky as they may be. And yes, it is ever most difficult "letting go" and watching my kids make mistakes. But this is life and some of the best lessons learned are those we gained through personal experience. I stress the importance of communication. So simple yet so difficult for some. Often times, simply by letting a person know "why" you said/did/or are doing something makes all the difference in the world. The difference of being supported and understood as opposed to being met with scorn or indifference. I find it validates the feelings of others and they can walk away knowing my choice was not with any ill intent toward them...simply my choice and my right to life my life. I wonder if the boy/man-child were to have said his reasons for being up in the tree would have made the difference. Perhaps even he didn't know but he still could have said this as well...saying I will come down when I feel the time is right. Who knows what moves us to do some of the things we do. Was there selfishness in this story? Yeah, kinda...but with all parties involved and not necessarily for the wrong reasons. Most of us want what we want. We work for it, put out the effort to get it, seek clarity, make it known (mostly) and sometimes bitch about the obstacles in our way. The key is, how we go about getting it...and recognizing not one key fits all locks... I am sooooooo glad you did not write the "other" ending version of this story. It would have pissed me off and it wouldn't have given me this opportunity for introspective...into myself and the minds and wills of others around me. Okay, I'll leave ya alone now lol. About time huh didn't want and for that reason nobody could persuade him to come down purely on the basis of "it's what you should do". We all have to make our own mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes turn out to be the best thing that could have happened to us. I liked reading your thoughts on all this, thanks.
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4/21/2008 4:56 am |
You like Rainer Maria Rilke?
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