Copyright J S Brand
You can tart it up however you like.
That tree’s still not what it was destined to be. Still cut down… stunted… dead.
Who’s to say how beautiful it might have been, how high it might have soared, branches reaching for the sky, dispensing shelter, shade and solace to others?
So this week, while you’re busy exercising your rights, celebrating options, railing at perceived injustices, reflect a while on those who didn’t get to do that… or to be that tree.
All those ribbons, medals, poppies, beacons, ceremonies…
You can tart it up however much you like.
I’m still dead.
Not really a story in the true sense of the word this week, but it is someone’s story. Not everyone went off to war in a blaze of patriotic fervour. The more years I put behind me, the more aware I am of the years sacrificed by people so much younger than I. Thanks to Rochelle for leading the Friday Fictioneers out yet again.
castelsarrasin 
Moving writing, Sandra. A great piece and a great reminder.
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Thanks Jilly.
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Cleverly conceived tribute, Sandra, sadly wasted on our avaricious ruling classes.
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Thanks for reading, CE.
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Wonderful rant, Sandra
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Watching the news this week, Neil, (bonfire replicas, 98 year old victims of violence, graffiti of disabled children’s school etc etc) it makes you wonder what it was all for, certainly. Thanks for reading.
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Dear Sandra,
So many lives wasted. Awards can’t take away the damage. A well written reminder/tribute.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. Here in the UK it has been a bad week for judging the value of the sacrifices made.
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Timely and moving Sandra.
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Thanks, great picture. Where was it taken?
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Thank you Sandra. The picture was taken after a visit to a small museum in my hometown, somewhere in England. The carving must be finished by now and I’m planning to go back to see what it looks like. This will sound daft, but I’d prefer not to name the town (my reason might spark it’s own short story at some point).
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Well written, Sandra…
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Thanks, Sue.
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A thought-provoking piece indeed Sandra.
Click to read my FriFic tale!
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Thanks for reading, Keith.
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Strong and moving piece Sandra. At some point surely we will see the pointlessness of it all…surely.
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Reading the news this week, I wonder whether that point hasn’t been reached. Thanks for reading, Iain.
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A superbly written allegory, Sandra. It tore at my heart.
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Thanks, Edith, glad you liked it.
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Very moving piece, Sandra
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Thanks, Neel.
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Oh my goodness! What a powerful story – and what a last line!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks Susan, glad you liked it.
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Kind of like how a corpse is “tarted up” prior to an open casket memorial service.
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Kind of.
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Beautifully and subtlely done – Just ’round the corner from Remembrance Day and perfectly times.
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Thanks for reading, Dale.
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Powerful. So many gifted individuals are denied the ability to reach their true potential.
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And so many never even try. Thanks for reading, Michael.
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This is what humanity always does best… celebrating death and call it beauty.
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Sometimes I wonder whether society today isn’t just caught up in the trappings of grief.
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Wow. This is outstanding.
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Thank you, glad you liked it.
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the tree has a point. nothing matters when you’re dead.
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Or if it does, who’s to know? Thanks for visiting.
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Beautiful veterans’ day (and post-election day) tribute! I did not see what was coming. The harsh rebuke crept up quietly, and landed one square in my jaw.
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Thanks for reading. 🙂
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A powerful message. Well written!
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Thank you. Glad you liked it.
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I never regret reading your work, Sandra. Such a powerful piece. This will stay with me for a while, I’m sure.
-David
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Thank you for that, David. And glad you’re enjoying a new adventure now.
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Great reminder – and like the use of the word “tart”
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I’m often tempted to insert a morsel of the vernacular into a ‘literary’ piece. I don’t know why. 🙂
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Ahhhhh -all about essence and style 😊
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Very nice. Some people are so quick to jump on the latest cause. How much thought do they really put into it?
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Grief surfing… a lot of it about these days. Thanks for reading.
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Poor tree. Chalk up another casualty. Nicely written.
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Many thanks, Jo.
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A harsh reality, it is. A tree is not allowed to reach its full potential. it is trimmed, chopped and felled.
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Thanks for reading.
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Wow, that was powerful, Sandra.
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Thanks Liz.
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A deeply thought provoking allegory that can mean many different things, depending on the reader. Well told as always.
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Thanks for visiting, Brenda.
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An excellent Armistice Day remember, Sandra–lest we forget.
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Thanks for reading, Russell.
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I love the repetition of “tart it up” for the double meaning in the line. Nicely done. We must remember those that have gone before.
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I’m pleased to see how much coverage there has been in the UK this week. Thanks for visiting Alicia.
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Dead, but what a wonderful life, count the rings.
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Very deep and meaningful. 🙂
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Thanks for reading.
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You’re welcome. 🙂
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A beautiful piece, very relevant at this time, really lovely
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Thank you!
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we are making the whole nature beautiful, no/
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A powerful little piece. It’s strange how we talk about surviving two world wars when so many of us didn’t. I love it when these stories make me think, and you did just that.
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Pleased you liked it. 🙂
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Great story. Moving.
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Thank you, Indira. Good to hear from you.
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Thanks for saying this. My body and internet both are giving lots of problem. 🙂
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An apt story for Remembrance day. Nice one.
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Thank you!
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The most fitting use of the prompt this week, I think. Well done.
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Many thanks. Good to see you’re back on the squares again. 🙂
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Very touching.
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Thank you.
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I was recently at an art exhibit (I posted some of the pics on my facebook page yesterday) that had the same idea. It was done in mixed media with things like dog tags and name badges next to words like “Family Tradition”.
Poignant piece, Sandra.
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It’s been heartwarming this year, to see the efforts that people have made. There was an estate agents shop window on the high street the other day, where all the photographs of properties for sale had been removed, and instead there were poppy decorated cards. A small sacrifice I know in comparison, but from an estate agent… 🙂
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Very forceful and indignant voice, Sandra and a point well made
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Thanks for reading, Michael.
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