It ENT No More

by aKuna Kumara

This morning I found two separate blogs in my inbox which created a reference to the story of The Hobbit which I first read in the early 1960’s. The book series is far more exciting than the wonderful movie Lord of the Rings. It was an adult fairytale that carried busy working people back to their childhood memories of a world that once existed in which we could no longer partake. Some of the characters were the forest of the Ent Trees, huge Grandfatherly Oaks that were as frightening at first encounter as they were gentle upon knowing.

Down the old wagon trail just past the barn and off to the left was where you could find the home of one such stately being who protected this property which I earth-keep. When opportunity arose to take a walk while hubby tended the children I often went to sit at the Ent’s feet to absorb his worldly awareness. He was a friend, a guardian protector and grandfather wrapped into one. His huge trunk, robbed of youth so many hundreds of years ago, was hollowed out of its more vibrant growth, and in it’s wake a huge family of honey bees filled his breast. Always too busy to notice one human so small, they flew their flight some twenty foot above my resting place.

Years passed, the children grew and took their own flight and with it I lost the time to visit my old friend. One day a few years ago I ventured down the path in need of the love and strength I’d once shared from the Ent. My heart sank as I peered through the wood to find him sprawled on the ground devoid of his buzzing heart center. There were only ruminants of the wild honey and wax comb that once help hold grandfather Ent’s breast cage together.  His arms that had reached so wide and spread in a welcoming hug lay bare of green sleeve, and his feet lay crumbled beneath the weight of his huge lifeless body. I could only rest my hands on his shoulders as my weight might have split him further, and my tears streamed remembering his grotesque stature that was so foreboding, yet while emanating abounding comfort.  There lay grandfather sleeping, giving back to Mother Earth all she had given over the centuries that he stood so strong through the hundreds of seasons.

Today when ever there is need for comforting wisdom I will still find myself sitting on the ground where his feet where once so firmly planted. So I was reminded from the inbox posts to go visit grandfather Ent and come away with a new bonding of the consciousness that still lingers.