The Grandfather tree
Karakura, it's known for its weird, wonderful and supernatural. Any item can become a presence or piece in which supernatural energy is channelled into and altered. But much of what is spoken about today, remains a myth or legend shared amongst people across the island for years. One rumour in particular, told to me by my mother, is of the elderly willow tree which rests in the centre of the city. Its rumours being dark and cryptic, aimed to ward off people.
The old willow tree perched in the centre of a small park remains a point of interest for some. Its peculiar size, ancient breath and gentle whisper of leaves seems all too peaceful amongst those who rest under its shade but scattered at its base are tens of candles. Untouched, unlit and seeming almost frozen in the silence of time. Yet this great grandfather tree spreads its long fingers across the sky, swallowing up any chance of the summer sun and winters weeping to touch the tiled patterns of the floor below it.
Unlike most willows it is evergreen, bearing jade leaves of arrow tipped shapes which slice the air in restless storms cutting through the skies. It is rumoured the tree bears its evergreen leaves as a shield for those who rest under its twisted arms during these storms. Its whistling whispers and rustling dances shield the vulnerable from the powerful, and yet it remains alone. A soldier in a field of fallen limbs and a natural pillar against the industrial encroachment of civilization. These diamond leaves and cap of green remain shivering in the shifting winds in a peaceful flow as time continues to tick by. But like all elderly landmarks stories come too and some say if you stand below the tree in a storm its leaves and branches whisper the melodies of the fallen.
In fact, maybe it's evergreen leaves stem from the fallen, nurtured upon the dead of souls to breathe life into a giant which stands strong. Therefore it never seems to see an end of life, fed immortality by the fallen and draining the earth of its soul's lifeforce greedy for a chance to live forever. But then the candles which cuddle the old twisted roots where the rooks whallow from above become a refuge and a contract, binding the dead to the living for eternity. But that all could just be a tale told to young children in order for them not to run into its old roots. However, those said children never returned to their mothers the next day.
A single mother of one was rumoured to have twins, and yet no one could remember the younger daughter of the family. Almost as if the woman truly believed she had twins but the child itself was non-existent with her only son and a daughter being the other twin. Upon a rainy night the single mother was with both her children exiting the Karakura Hospital after a check up on both of them. With wind howling and the rain’s tears scattering the ground, the woman rushed her children onward to the local train station to get the fastest way home. The daughter, a 5 year old at the time, pointed to the whispering willow with its twisting fingers in the wind dancing its deadly melody. She commented on the beauty of its features and its peculiar shape through the raging storm. However the mother paid no mind to such a tree and urged her daughter to hurry along with her brother being dragged behind them. Upon the sheltered arms of the train station the mother instructed her son and daughter to stay at their seat while she went to the bathroom before the train. The storm continued its raging squeals and mournful cries which encircled them in the tunnels, far in the distance a car honk beeped and the monotone sound of the trains intercom played. But curiosity got the better of the young girl and when the mother returned only her son was left sitting alone. The lonely mother feared the worst and asked her son where his sister had gone to have him respond.
“Sister? I don't have a sister mother.”
The young woman was mortified at her son's words and knelt before him desperately trying to remind him of his twin sister. But no recount came to the young boy and instead he pointed to the train and said it was home time. With her mind spinning the young mother took her son to their home frantically calling police on the way there before dropping her son at her neighbours place and running to the hospital. Through frantic steps, howling winds and blurry tears the mother halted in front of the tree to see one candle stood alone away from the cluster of others, its flame flickering in eerie peace despite the raging storm. The willows winding fingers whipping violently in the winds, the rain angled like daggers gliding through their air and stabbing into the ground losing their form. Dark grey clouds clustered the sky and yet the candle danced its mesmerising flow in front of the woman, disturbing. Oblivious to the storm which raged around it. Frozen in the moment she remained there staring unsure what to happen.
But with a distant buzzing within her head, a reeling thought that something was wrong with this candle, that she was crazy she turned away. Adrenaline driving her crazy she concluded and continued her search for the lost daughter, the other half of her son. Days, weeks, months passed. Eventually the Karakura Police deemed the woman crazy with no hospital reports of a birth to two children they suggested seeing a psychiatrist. Not even the brother remembered his sister's face, upset his mother was so focused on some imaginary sister. The single mother eventually left Karakura, seeking professional mental help for her ‘condition’ and the son was taken with her…
A tree of death, breathing off the lifeforce of others who shelter under its curtain of leaves to wait out a severe storm. However many people are oblivious to such a monstrous elderly tree. Some rumours scattered through folktales say that upon the light of a blood painted sky or a raging wild storm, howling and roaring through the city the candles flicker to life and dance in a synchronised motion, as one entity waving by passers over to rest their heavy heads upon the grandfather willow tree roots and wait a while. Only, those who do never return and become a waxed seal dancing the same mocking dance to those who wish to shelter under its old roots for a breath. Burning bright and fuelling the fire of the everlasting grandfather willow tree.
Unlike most willows it is evergreen, bearing jade leaves of arrow tipped shapes which slice the air in restless storms cutting through the skies. It is rumoured the tree bears its evergreen leaves as a shield for those who rest under its twisted arms during these storms. Its whistling whispers and rustling dances shield the vulnerable from the powerful, and yet it remains alone. A soldier in a field of fallen limbs and a natural pillar against the industrial encroachment of civilization. These diamond leaves and cap of green remain shivering in the shifting winds in a peaceful flow as time continues to tick by. But like all elderly landmarks stories come too and some say if you stand below the tree in a storm its leaves and branches whisper the melodies of the fallen.
In fact, maybe it's evergreen leaves stem from the fallen, nurtured upon the dead of souls to breathe life into a giant which stands strong. Therefore it never seems to see an end of life, fed immortality by the fallen and draining the earth of its soul's lifeforce greedy for a chance to live forever. But then the candles which cuddle the old twisted roots where the rooks whallow from above become a refuge and a contract, binding the dead to the living for eternity. But that all could just be a tale told to young children in order for them not to run into its old roots. However, those said children never returned to their mothers the next day.
A single mother of one was rumoured to have twins, and yet no one could remember the younger daughter of the family. Almost as if the woman truly believed she had twins but the child itself was non-existent with her only son and a daughter being the other twin. Upon a rainy night the single mother was with both her children exiting the Karakura Hospital after a check up on both of them. With wind howling and the rain’s tears scattering the ground, the woman rushed her children onward to the local train station to get the fastest way home. The daughter, a 5 year old at the time, pointed to the whispering willow with its twisting fingers in the wind dancing its deadly melody. She commented on the beauty of its features and its peculiar shape through the raging storm. However the mother paid no mind to such a tree and urged her daughter to hurry along with her brother being dragged behind them. Upon the sheltered arms of the train station the mother instructed her son and daughter to stay at their seat while she went to the bathroom before the train. The storm continued its raging squeals and mournful cries which encircled them in the tunnels, far in the distance a car honk beeped and the monotone sound of the trains intercom played. But curiosity got the better of the young girl and when the mother returned only her son was left sitting alone. The lonely mother feared the worst and asked her son where his sister had gone to have him respond.
“Sister? I don't have a sister mother.”
The young woman was mortified at her son's words and knelt before him desperately trying to remind him of his twin sister. But no recount came to the young boy and instead he pointed to the train and said it was home time. With her mind spinning the young mother took her son to their home frantically calling police on the way there before dropping her son at her neighbours place and running to the hospital. Through frantic steps, howling winds and blurry tears the mother halted in front of the tree to see one candle stood alone away from the cluster of others, its flame flickering in eerie peace despite the raging storm. The willows winding fingers whipping violently in the winds, the rain angled like daggers gliding through their air and stabbing into the ground losing their form. Dark grey clouds clustered the sky and yet the candle danced its mesmerising flow in front of the woman, disturbing. Oblivious to the storm which raged around it. Frozen in the moment she remained there staring unsure what to happen.
But with a distant buzzing within her head, a reeling thought that something was wrong with this candle, that she was crazy she turned away. Adrenaline driving her crazy she concluded and continued her search for the lost daughter, the other half of her son. Days, weeks, months passed. Eventually the Karakura Police deemed the woman crazy with no hospital reports of a birth to two children they suggested seeing a psychiatrist. Not even the brother remembered his sister's face, upset his mother was so focused on some imaginary sister. The single mother eventually left Karakura, seeking professional mental help for her ‘condition’ and the son was taken with her…
A tree of death, breathing off the lifeforce of others who shelter under its curtain of leaves to wait out a severe storm. However many people are oblivious to such a monstrous elderly tree. Some rumours scattered through folktales say that upon the light of a blood painted sky or a raging wild storm, howling and roaring through the city the candles flicker to life and dance in a synchronised motion, as one entity waving by passers over to rest their heavy heads upon the grandfather willow tree roots and wait a while. Only, those who do never return and become a waxed seal dancing the same mocking dance to those who wish to shelter under its old roots for a breath. Burning bright and fuelling the fire of the everlasting grandfather willow tree.
Hopefully that doesn't scare off everyone from even going near the tree! Again its just a folklore or tale told to me through family generations and is a little bit of a fun dark story. However, a lesson learned here is don’t run off without your parents (unless you don't have one…) or be safe and stay indoors during a storm!
Stay safe out there Karakura!
