The Fall of the Acacia, by Karen Waldron
Sydney Gardens Tree Weekender writing competition — this piece was selected by our volunteer judges as worthy to be included on a long list. Competition entrants were asked to write a poem or prose piece of 250 words or fewer on the theme of trees in parks and public gardens, as well as identify the local park or garden, the trees in which inspired them.
‘So pretty’, ‘amazing colour’, ‘what is that lovely tree?’.
Did you hear what they said about you? My stand-out tree with your citrus-coloured leaves, lemony-lime in summer, orangey-lime in autumn, the pinnate fronds, all slack and feathery, loosely wafting in the breezes. Bit of brute underneath it all though, weren’t you? Bark as furrowed and rucked as a parched ploughed field, and thin branches concealing a wicked thorn, sharp as sharks’ teeth.
Robinia Pseudoacacia frisia, False Acacia, Black Locust, ‘won’t flower willingly’.
Rather unflattering names and descriptions for one so beautiful. But even against our strapping, handsome Oak, and the Lime, which dripped prettily with delicate, pale summer flowers, you were always the most striking.
Then, you started to show signs of ill health. Bare branches, sparse leafiness, a spongey feeling around the base of your trunk.
I’ll prune it back, it might survive’, said the tree surgeon, but I saw the doubt in his face and the way your trunk gave under his firm push.
You lingered for another two summers, and then one morning, early Autumn after a windy night, I opened my curtains and there you were. Laid out across the lawn, branches reaching beseechingly towards the house. Your silent, nocturnal collapse almost apologetic — ‘wouldn’t have wanted to wake any of you’.
I walked out to the garden and looked down on you. Poor tree. The garden would never be the same again.
I don’t mind telling you, I cried.
An Acacia tree, a garden in Woking, Surrey.
Karen Waldron is a freelance copywriter and editor who writes for pleasure in her spare time. She particularly enjoy writing flash and short fiction. Born in Bath, but she lives in leafy Surrey with her husband, three children, a disdainful cat, and two stick insects who care even less.
Read other long listed pieces here. From 24 November, discover whether this piece made the shortlist — you can listen to it using the Echoes.xyz app either within or around Sydney Gardens in Bath or remotely.
Find out about all the events running on-line or in Sydney Gardens over the Tree Weekender on 27 & 28 November 2021, and look out especially for the Celebratory Finale Showcase at which the Competition winners and runners-up will be announced.
With special thanks to Dr Richard White and undergraduate students in Participatory Media at Bath Spa University for their support in making the geo-located audio pieces.
