The Old Tree

by

Per Jespersen

On a warm sunny summer day Michael and his grandpa were on a trip in one of the 
largest forests in the country. The trees in the forest were very old – over three 
hundred years, and there was an amusement park, which was as old as the forest.
Grandpa and Michael talked about the magic trees, whose trunks looked like very 
old faces, and Michael expected them to start talking and laughing, but they did not. 
And yet – was there a voice somewhere? Or was it their fantasy? No, trees could not 
speak.
"Unless they are magic," Michael said.
"There's no such thing as magic," grandpa answered.
"You say so, because you are old."
"Has magic anything to do with age," grandpa said.
"Of course. Growing up means loss of the ability to see the magic when it is there."
"So the definition of childhood is magichood and the definition of adulthood is --- 
well, I don't know."
"But I do," Michael said. "Reasonhood. But you can't see everything through 
reasoning."
"And you can't see everything through magic."
"So where is the truth?"
"There's no such thing as truth," Michael said.
Now one of the oldest trees interfered, "You are talking human language."
"And you," Michael asked.
"I don't know what to call it. But I know it – wordless."
"See, what I said," Michael said. "Let's go on and leave the forest alone. Human 
disturbance is not good for the forest. We destroy more than we are useful. Let's go 
to the beach."
Hand in hand they walked through the beautiful forest towards the sea. They could 
already hear the waves and see the marvellous blue light shining in the clear air as if 
the whole world was blue.
But they did not reach the sea, because Michael discovered something, which was 
really magic for him.
"Look, grandpa. Look there at the corner of the street."
Grandpa gazed. A nine hundred year old tree, whose trunk was hollow, and which 
had grown here such a long time, that you could not imagine it. It was even older 
than the nearby city. It had experienced World War Two, and the fishing boats 
sailing Jews to the neighbouring country at the other side of the sea.
"That's exactly what makes the tree magic. It's history that makes the tree magic. I 
think the tree has a soul, and in its soul it has everything it has seen and heard, so 
that the soul grows more and more magic."
"I've never heard such an explanation before," grandpa said.
"But it's true. It's the same for mankind. The common soul of mankind grows so 
magic, that we can't explain anything anymore."
"So why do we make wars?"
"Because we try to solve problems through reasoning instead of magic. It's really 
simple, grandpa!"
"Maybe I'm too old."
"I guess so -- but not as old as the tree. Let's go in and talk to it."
Hand in hand grandpa and Michael crossed the crowded street and went up to the 
old tree. And yes – the trunk was hollow and so huge, that at least three men could 
stand in there. It was amazing. In older times a priest held masses here, and 
sometimes he used the hollow tree as a prayer room.
"Imagine," said Michael. "Imagine how many prayers have been sent through the 
hole up there to Heaven or God. I think I'll write a prayer and send it up. " He found 
a piece of paper in his bag and wrote some words.
"What do you wish," grandpa asked.
"I'll tell you when my prayers have flown away."
And so they did. As taken by invisible hands the paper flew through the hole.
"So tell me," grandpa said eagerly.
"I prayed that you will find the magic in everything, because I love you so much. I 
want all the best for you."
Grandpa had tears in his eyes and sincerely wished that he was a child again.
Then he heard Michael shout in joy, "Look grandpa, look! The answer is coming."
And right it was. This very story fell down through the hole!


The Old Tree
Engelsk for 7. klasse
Skole-forum.dk



Opgaver til "The Old Tree"


What does Michael mean by magic?


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Have you experienced something magic?


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Why is it natural for Michael that they can talk to the tree?


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What will this story tell?


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Do you have any idea where this tree can be found?
Does it really exist?

Here is the answer:


North of the Danish capital!!!!!!


Opgaver til "The Old Tree"
Engelsk for 7. klasse
Skole-forum.dk