The garden of expectations

A Garden of Expectation

By Joshua Rose

 

I left my home, closing the front door behind me, feeling unsatisfied with life and frustrated with the present.
And so, I went within myself and said, what would please me; to make my worries leave me and my fears few?
But the parts within himself did not have the understanding to give it to him.
 

In my yard stood a great tree, a wise old tree with more years than I had known.
And so, I asked the tree Can you change your leaves? I feel that my life would be better if you did
But the tree did not speak, it had no way to tell him with words.

 

Frustrated at the trees’ stubbornness, I thought of how to persuade the tree to my will.
And so, I went to the tree and said Please oh tree, turn your leaves orange for me to brighten my yard with your splendor
But the tree did not change, it remained green that day.
 

Maybe if I am persistent, I thought; I must ask the tree every day from here on.
And so, I went to the tree and said Please oh tree , won't you turn your leaves? Of gold I see no trace
But the tree did not know what he wanted. For it was a tree.
 

On this day I finally saw a leaf turned. A leaf brown like chocolate, my eyes were hungry for more!
And so, I went to the tree and said Oh! how well you are doing, your leaf has changed now you know what you must do. Turn all your boughs amber brown and gold.
But the tree did not change its leaf for him. Its branch had just broken.

 

 

I think to myself how insulting it is that the tree has not known what I want. Or why it refuses.
And so, I went to the tree and said Tree, I shall chop you down if you do not make your leaves orange, I’ve lost my patience and will be forced to punish you!
But the tree did not change its leaves to amber. He grew more frustrated with the tree.


Angry with the tree and slighted by its willingness to let me suffer, I brought an axe to its trunk.
And so, I went to the tree and said I must do this, you have failed to do what would be best for you.
The tree was gone. Unknowing of the reason it had passed.