Lately, I have experienced a heightened awareness of the cycle of life. I have found myself particularly drawn to dead trees: I notice them everywhere. This original woodcut print shows what is left of a dead tree I came across on the island of Vinalhaven. The stump sits at the opening of a wooded path where the forest transitions to the shoreline of a tidal basin.
A tree stump serves many during its transitional state of natural decline. This tree continues to exist in an altered yet meaningful way. It is a refuge and home for wildlife and a buffer during storms and its hidden network of roots still stabilizes the coastal soil. For hikers, it is a landmark along the trail. The decaying tree stump is also a thing of beauty to behold. We can only speculate about the incremental transitions and the time it took for a seed to become a seedling and eventually a mature towering tree that stood strong against the heavy winds riding off Penobscot Bay. I appreciate all that the stump still has to offer in its weathered state, and its monumental presence seems to honor the cycle of life.