Mono Monday "Time"

Forgive the poor quality of this - It was really hard to get a good shot as the sun was pouring in the window on the 7th floor of the hospital I work at. This is just outside the Geri-Psychiatric Unit, not a really happy place. This story, "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein was a favorite with my children growing up. It's about a tree that is a wonderful place for a little boy to play around, pick its apples, swing from, climb its branches and sit in the shade of. As Time goes by the little boy grows up, he cuts the tree to build a house and eventually stops coming to see the tree and well, you can guess how it goes. The tree is lonely, but as the tree ages so does the young man and in the end, the old man does come back to see his tree again. Time passes so quickly, especially as we get older and sometimes the passage gets away from us.

"And after a long time
the boy came back again.
"I am sorry, Boy,"
said the tree," but I have nothing
left to give you -
My apples are gone."
"My teeth are too weak
for apples," said the boy.
"My branches are gone,"
said the tree. " You
cannot swing on them - "
"I am too old to swing
on branches," said the boy.
"My trunk is gone, " said the tree.
"You cannot climb - "
"I am too tired to climb" said the boy.
"I am sorry," sighed the tree.
"I wish that I could give you something....
but I have nothing left.
I am just an old stump.
I am sorry...."
"I don't need very much now," said the boy.
"just a quiet place to sit and rest.
I am very tired."
"Well," said the tree, straightening
herself up as much as she could,
"well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting
Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest."

Many Thanks to Wetcoast Bob for hosting this challenge.