roots - page 1 of 4

A story written and designed

Soumy Ana

"And verily, this Ummah of yours is One Ummah, and I am

your Lord; therefore fear only Me." -Qur'an 23:52.

I am folding the gingko seeds into paper towels. Water and

warmth; it is all they need to germinate, or do they? My

bonsais curve under a pool of light that reflects on the knuckles

of my hands. I remember my trip to the nursery, and I think

that we often get the unexpected in life.

I had arrived in the nursery a few hours ago. I loved

working with trees; one of my hobbies was to photograph

nature. There was a world to discover among forests and

marshes, a world immobile and sensitive that often escaped us.

I had brought my specimens with me, hoping that the gardener

would have some idea on how to make them healthier.

Junipers were maybe the hardiest trees I knew as far as the art

of bonsai is concerned, but I think I had woken them too soon

from their dormant state. These trees cast their branches far

away into the air, as if for reaching. Even if they were winter

trees, evergreen, they still shed leaves during the cold seasons.

And, who can reach without losing something of himself? My

trees had grown too quickly this year; they now looked

exhausted.

Photo courtesy of: http://www.usda.gov

I had just picked what looked singularly like a small

pebble from a pot when the gardener came in and took one

between his fingers and smashed it. It burst, releasing a drop

of liquid.