Mourning Morning

Casualties within our compound:

7 gemlina trees
2 mango trees
1 caimito/star apple tree
2 yellow bell trees
unaccounted for young trees and plants along the compound's riverbanks.

I'm mourning still. I was awake yesterday midnight till morning. The weeping of the trees against the howling of the winds is still in my memory. I wasn't surprised at daybreak. In front of me was MURDER. The death of some trees older than me...trees I planted with my dad, mom and siblings.

Nature giveth and taketh - I know it but mourning is inevitable. Damn typhoon.

It's a day after the typhoon but still I can't get over it. Sometimes I wonder why our place is not gifted with some rolling hills to at least shelter us from strong winds but then, who am I to question the general order of things? I should at least be thankful that I do not live in a place with harsher climatic conditions like the poles or the deserts.

I'll miss the trees. They were more than siblings to me. Unlike some people, they have stood by me every time I needed their shelter and companionship. They always listened to my rants and mind you, they give the best advice. They go: "Shhhhh..." as if to say, "Hush, take heart, everything on earth passes away." They give without expecting much in return. It's too sad that I can't for the love of Christ be there for them when the raging winds were ripping them off.

Here's to the memory of them who never leave us unless murdered.

I love trees.