Sunday Pomes & Words, 17/03/2024
The Story of the Elders, by Alison Bancroft
Welcome back to our regular feature of Sunday Pomes & Words. Click here for last week’s indulgence.
What you are about to receive is a beautiful true story. Let’s call it magical realism. Because it really did happen. And there are photos to prove it.
For me, this is the difference between belief and faith - belief is simply ‘hoping’ it’s true. Faith is knowing it’s true. It comes from experience.
Anyhow, given that it’s spring, here is a little bit of magic, and something a little more than hope…
The Story of the Elders
When they first came to the garden it showed them wonderful things. On the bank at the end of the garden was an elder tree. They had never lived so close to an elder tree before.
But there were things which weren’t so wonderful, and one of these was a high hedge of dark dark laurels all around the terrace.
At first they tried pruning the laurels – but they just seemed to grow faster than ever.
One day they finally decided that the only thing for it was to chop the laurels down. So first they chopped down one side (the sun and the moon were in the sky together all morning) and then, bit by bit, they chopped down the other.
It was much better without the laurels but something was missing.
In the meantime, every year the elder tree brought forth wonderful blossoms but, try as they might, they just couldn’t reach it to gather a few for elderflower fizz.
One day she was standing in the garden next to the hedgeless space and looked up and asked ‘Oh please might some elders come here please? Can that be possible?’
And the elders came, one by one, small at first but growing every year and offering more blossom each time.
Moral: Faith may not move mountains but it can encourage elders…
