Weeping Willow

Gold cherry

By JuliaB

Thu, 28 Apr 2022
  • 1361 reads
9 comments
 

I have a small, black and white photograph of my granny holding me as a baby. It’s the only photo I have of her. She’s wearing a cloche hat reminiscent of her days as a young mother in the 1920s that she must have had for many years. She is sitting on a chair in front of the large weeping willow in the back garden of the house where we lived until I was six. I am about four months old so it’s late spring, clearly a warm, sunny day. I’m wrapped in a shawl but I know I’m wearing a Christening dress underneath. The tree is not quite in full leaf. The tips of the branches gently brush the earth. I don’t remember the photo being taken but I do remember the tree.

Hiding behind the curtain of branches and feeling safe from my marauding brothers.

A place I could take my doll, in her pram, and not risk having her sacrificed on some cowboy campfire.

I could see out through the drapery of green leaves but it was harder to see me, if I kept quiet and still.

A place I could play house, or sit, back against the broad trunk, and feel hugged.

I can still feel the rough bark of the tree: small fingers able to trace between the grooves and hug the tree back.

The gentle farewell brush of the leaves on my cheeks when I was called in for tea.

Certificate U
Biography
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Such a wonderful memory to look back on, and to have a photo to inspire those memories. The Willow was such a comfort to you, and it seems your granny had a special place in your heart.

Lovely to read this piece of nostalgia and long live the Willow tree.

Very much enjoyed reading.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

What a lovely, fleeting moment in time you've captured here!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Even old grainy photos can trigger memories of place and people. You capture and convey the lovely feeling of being in a private den behind that lovely green or greening screen, and the 'favourite private place' so well. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Frances Macaula... on

A gorgeous memory to treasure forever.  I love my own collection of photos and like you, love to re-live those moments which because we look back, are all so special.  You did this so well. Thank you for sharing and congratulations on the cherries. 

Soundcloud:  https://soundcloud.com/search?q=FrancesMF

Submitted by Ewan on

Congratulations.

Could we ask other readers to share/retweet this wonderful vignette on Facebook and Twitter?

 

Author Page at the 'Zon
 

Submitted by celticman on

distant memories, but not that distant. You've brought them to life. 

 

Submitted by JuliaB on

Thanks for the lovely comments and the cherries. I am still drawn to weeping willows today whenever I see one!

 

Submitted by lenchenelf on

...thank you for your reverie, sweet and sharp as a a wild blackberry.

enjoyed

Lena x

 

Submitted by catherine poarch on

This is so lovely. I have loads of old black and white family photographs, I can't identify everyone but can't throw them out either. You've captured what the photos always make me feel they meant to the people in them, one memory triggering another and then another. I loved the description of the bark of the tree.  smiley