Chop Down That Tree!

Posted on March 10, 2014 by Ara Hagopian's The LITERATE Show

A small tree had taken root on a wallet-sized piece of outcropping on the Gailsville
Highway. Growing on soil-less rock, as strong as any earth-rooted tree, the
five-foot sapling hacked out a life in the cracks of the cliff. Rick Fromann, a
former prison inmate who’d spent his year of post-jail life working for the
state’s highway system, had admired this tree each day he’d taken Exit 16 home.
When the Highway Authority deemed the tree a hazard to the public, Fromman was
torn between following what he perceived as senseless orders, or protecting the
tree he’d considered a hard-luck friend.

Tree

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER- Ara Hagopian’s debut book “What Happened to Vicky Lee? A Collection of Stories” is out now: http://vickyleethebook.com/

About Ara Hagopian's The LITERATE Show

For over thirty years, I have enjoyed drawing beautiful shapes and writing complementary stories. The imagery tends to focus on our place in the world—whomever or whatever we may be. I am influenced by Twentieth Century history—I read vintage magazines, books and letters. Inspiration comes from visualizing human achievement and personal interaction—derived from people, places and things which may be obscure, but never insignificant. My pen-and-ink THE MAGNIFICENT RECOVERY was selected by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston for their 2008 summer art auction.
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5 Responses to Chop Down That Tree!

  1. Paul Giles says:
    March 10, 2014 at 8:23 AM

    I hate to see any tree cut down, they are wonderful things, beautiful things. They quietly grow, sometimes in quite amazing places, giving us a glimpse of solidity in a flim-flam world and those who subscribe to that world, all they see is so much firewood.

    Reply
  2. Scott says:
    March 10, 2014 at 9:05 AM

    Ara! You can’t leave us hanging like this. What did Rick do? Don’t you dare tell me that I’ll have to wait for your new book to find out.

    I love the tenacity of plants. They’ll do the impossible sometimes, then absolutely fail to cooperate and turn brown when I try to give them a loving home.

    Reply
  3. ilias says:
    March 13, 2014 at 5:53 AM

    I am quite fond of trees growing on rocks like this one . Nature is just amazing .
    Ara , don’t keep us waiting ! I am going to start a crusade : “Save the wee tree !!”

    Reply

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