"Tree Of Life?" . . . Meet Deepest East Dayton's "Tree Of Death"

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Most everyone has heard of the "Tree Of Life," and many artists have gone out of their way to capture this tree in illustration:








There seem to be as many definitions for the Tree Of Life concept as there are artist depictions, but the general consensus is that it symbolizes the interconnectedness of life - that all living things share the same root.

Unfortunately, I'm not so certain that there is a similar highbrow concept or definition for Deepest East Dayton's "Tree Of Death":



The Tree Of Death stands approximately 40 feet high. Its trunk would indicate that it has been with us for many, many years.



For me The Tree Of Death inspires considerably more basic questions than the Tree Of Life, such as: How long has it been standing? Or more to the point: how is the Tree Of Death *still* standing given some of the storms it has weathered of late? Perhaps I should re-name it "The Death-Defying Tree."

I would not go so far as to say that the Tree Of Death stands proudly, but it does appear to be quite strong given its age and condition. And there is no denying that it is in fact more than just standing - it actually appears to be reaching up and out.

























Who knows? - maybe there is still some life lying dormant in those spindly, bone-dry limbs.

Maybe the Tree Of Death is simply riding out a bad cycle . . . waiting for the right time.






[NOTE: You can click on the black & white photos to enlarge them - the details on the tree limbs and trunk are pretty fascinating. For those who are interested in paying their respects to Deepest East Dayton's "Tree Of Death," it is located in the backyard of the boarded up home at the northeast corner of the Xenia Avenue and Highland Hills intersection - just east of the US 35 overpass]

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