‘I cut the tree from the Wall’

   Dear Fran,

   These lines make up an obituary dedicated to an old tree.

   Fran, my friend Godoy is saddened at the moment because he has received news that the sycamore tree that he hugged in September 2016 has been cut down in an act of vandalism by some heartless people. That year it was declared the Tree of England. As he tells me in his email, the news has caused him pain similar to the loss of a loved one, a good friend. He´s emotional and saddened.

   In some way this legendary tree already belonged to those who, like Godoy, had rested under its shadow and, without knowing it, hurt its roots and to those who hoped to be able to do so one day.

   In reality it has been a double crime: for what he represented and for being a living being that deserved all respect.

   Almost two hundred years of accompanying people who traveled alone through those lands have been cut down in a treacherously despicable way. Godoy was aware that the crime took place in September of last year. The edited photo he keeps of him is now more precious.

The Sycamore

   There are those who become famous for achieving positive deeds and helping others and there are those who come to this world to become famous for sawing, burning or destroying something that belongs to humanity. In fact, I imagine the guy who cut the emblem of Hadrian's Wall in the local pub with one or two too many drinks, bragging about his feat. I cut the tree from the Wall. I cut it.

   May the god Mithras judge these individuals accordingly. If only!

   Y. a.

   Mary