The elm tree on the top of the bungalow behind the office building was finally destroyed by the repairman, and there will be no green life here. Facing the dark and empty roof after being stuck with linoleum, my heart is dim and empty. My heart aches for the disappearance of this lonely but tenacious life.

To tell you the truth, I don't like elm very much. Too ordinary, lacking lovable qualities. There are neither graceful willows nor tall and straight poplars, nor tall and straight pine trees. It is also stubborn and conservative, as evidenced by the folk saying that "a hundred axes are not happy." Although I heard from the old people that an elm tree could support a family in the past, I ate elm money in spring, elm leaves in summer and autumn, and ground elm skin to eat. But that was in the past times of hunger. What does it have to do with us? Besides, people nowadays are not tired of eating fine food. Who wants to eat "things" like elm money, elm leaves and elm noodles? Even if we go back to nature and eat vegetarian dishes, wild vegetables and leaves, I don't think it will be elm money, elm leaves and elm noodles. Especially in recent years, an abominable caterpillar grows on the elm tree every year. When the leaves are tender in spring, caterpillars crawl on the leaves early in the morning and late at night, eating, spitting and pulling until the leaves are chewed into the shape of the bottom of the sieve. As soon as the sun shone, they climbed behind the trunk in droves. It's really disgusting to see black caterpillars crawling slowly one by one. What's more, these larvae fly around after emergence, and when they fall, they will spit out a yellow-green mucus with an unpleasant smell, which makes people sick. Can such a tree arouse your appetite and arouse your good feelings? Love me, love my dog and hate insects and trees. Perhaps for this reason, northerners seldom plant this kind of tree now, although they have planted many trees.

Although I don't like elms, I have a special liking for elms on the top of the bungalow behind the office building. That is a natural "wild tree". More than ten years ago, an elm tree fell here with the wind. After a quiet spring rain, the life factors contained in it were activated, so she grew up and began a difficult life journey towards the set goals.

This is a lonely and quiet tree. She has been quietly growing up on the barren roof for many years, without neighbors, hanging together like a shadow. As a lonely person, she has endured the test of years, never comparing herself with others, never caring about prosperity, never considering fame and fortune, never being arrogant, not making public, not impetuous, not sad, not timid, complacent, peaceful and lonely, and always walking her own survival concept and road in her heart.

This is a tenacious tree. On the roof of reinforced concrete, the living environment can be imagined, not to mention the shallow soil layer and poor nutrition, not to mention the lack of water necessary for life here, but she is more determined, ordered not to move, does not give in to the harsh environment, does not lose hope of survival, neither begs for fertilizer and insects, nor fantasizes about who will water and irrigate. After winter and summer, as long as there is a little rain or even moisture, she will step on it. Grow up! Grow up! Year after year! Month after month! Every day is like this! The persistence and tenacity of that kind of life is amazing. The whole world praises the pines and cypresses between the cliffs of Mount Tai and Huangshan Mountain. If the flowers and trees know, they will be ashamed of such a miracle of life created by the elm tree on this roof.

I'm glad there is such an elm tree behind the window. After work, whenever I look out of the window, as long as I see this tree, I will suddenly pay tribute. I will have a sudden impulse, which will activate my numb and tired nerves, soothe my lonely and sad soul, and make my restless and chaotic mood clear. She is like a long book that never tires of reading, a tolerant and kind-hearted wise man, and has become my soul mate and spiritual sustenance on the road of growing up in the red dust. I silently wish her growth and pay attention to her life. ...

However, such a tree was destroyed in one day. In the face of the disaster of this weak life, I have no grief, only self-pity, only helplessness. I just feel that the deep-rooted concept of life has become shaky at this time.

"This elm tree, tenacious and persistent in vitality, noble and magnanimous in temperament, is really amazing, but it was born in a strange place and has no deep foundation. You will never be a pillar, and you will lose your head when there is a disaster. This is a law that no one can resist. Besides, is it necessary for us to encourage her to suffer like this for a goal that is doomed to be unattainable? " A friend who shared the appreciation of elm with me all day comforted me and was deeply inspired.

However, since the water is still flowing, although we cut it with a sword and listened to this requiem-like talk, my sadness about the destruction of this elm tree has increased a bit, and a burst of dull pain has come up, such as the Qiantang water in the Mid-Autumn Festival in August, which is unstoppable and can't be pushed away. "Don't be happy with things, don't be sad for yourself", I envy this realm of the ancients and blame myself for being shallow in cultivation.

Goodbye, that elm tree on the roof!

(Hundreds of Proses, 12, 2005)

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