Respect Respect

The Thinking Tree

My Response to a poetry prompt

Once there was a tree - a very majestic tree, and there was a little girl. Her name was Lora Lee.

Lora Lee loved to climb up in its leafy branches. The tree welcomed the little girl, and tried to give her answers.

This tree had lived for many years and still standing it remained. It was called the Thinking Tree for the knowledge it had gained.

Lora Lee came to the tree one day, saying, “Tree, I am quite sad. A friend is being very cruel - it seems I make her mad.

She always has been kind before, but something must be wrong. She even told me to be quiet when I sang her a song.”

The tree listened intently, it cared about its friend. And did not interrupt her, before her story’s end.

“My mother said ignore her, for she’s no friend to me. That I should just make new friends, who, to me, are not so mean.

But, Tree, this is the friend I love, I don’t know why she’s changed. Do you have an answer, why is my friend acting strange?”

The Tree looked down at Lora Lee, curled up against its bark. It had to give the girl advice, before it got too dark.

“I think your friend has problems that others cannot see. You need to find out what they are, and help to set her free.

Don’t judge her by her attitude, like others tend to do. She needs a friend to show they care, and that friend, I know, is you.

Instead, please give her your respect, just be there by her side. Eventually she will reveal, the hurt she tries to hide.”

Lora Lee hugged the Thinking Tree, “Thank you for the advice.” Then went to see her human friend, who used to be so nice.

Her friend did not want to converse, and said, “Just let me be. Surely you have better things to do then talk to me.”

But Lora Lee asked, “What is wrong? I know you’re upset and mad. But I’m not going anywhere, until you tell me why you’re sad.

You’ve always been my closest friend, so, I know when something’s wrong. And if you don’t confide in me I’ll annoy you with a song.”

Her friend’s frown soon turned to tears. She said, “My father’s ill. He is too sick to go to work, And my mom can’t pay the bills.”

Lora Lee was extremely sad To hear what she was told. But now she knew the reason her friend was acting cold.

She told her friend, “I’m here for you, and I’ll find a way to help. I know you are not mad at me, but you hid the way you felt.”

Lora Lee then told her father What she’d found out on her own. Her dad worked for the local bank - he’d arrange the friends a loan.

Until the man was well again, and to work could return. “Thank you for your kindness, Dad, for hearing my concerns.”

Then quickly she raced up the hill to tell the Thinking Tree. It listened carefully to her tale, to hear what she’d achieved.

“I’m proud of you, my little friend,” said the tree with a wise grin. “You learned to not judge what you see, and to find the truth within.

You didn’t take the first advice, that you should find new friends. But searched for a solution, that would have a better end.

You showed your friend love and respect, which no one else could do. Then she, in turn, would understand that your friendship was true.”

Lora Lee then climbed and climbed, higher up into the tree. Lora Lee loved the Thinking Tree, and the Tree loved Lora Lee.

“Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners” ― Laurence Sterne

© John Hansen: All rights reserved Australian writer

Tagging the Following

Michael Rhodes, Misbah Sheikh, Pamela Oglesby, Keeley Schroder, Dr. Preeti Singh