Under the pine trees

(GLO)- Along with layers of mist lingering in the early morning, each slope winding around the small town, the deep green pine trees have long been the unique beauty of the Gia Lai plateau, deeply ingrained in the hearts of many people. And then, every time going far away or returning, that heart's voice is raised again with a flood of memories.

If pine trees in Da Lat "lull travelers' souls" with their soft foliage, misty over the slopes; pine trees in Mang Den ( Quang Ngai ) drift in the wild, quiet beauty of the mountains and forests, then pine trees in Pleiku have a very different appearance: quiet and proud like the people of this land.

Hundred-year-old pine trees. Photo: Nguyen Linh Vinh Quoc

Perhaps for many people, when mentioning pine trees in Gia Lai , they immediately think of hundred-year-old pine trees. The name itself clearly defines the strong vitality of this tree species that "stands in the sky and rustles" all year round, and is green and endless. Over time, that name has become a "brand", positioning an indispensable destination for many tourists every time they set foot in Gia Lai. Also, it is rare for pine trees to be planted in rows along such a long road. Some people come more than once or twice, sometimes just leisurely strolling under two rows of shady pine trees to listen to the sound of the wind in harmony with the peaceful, carefree heart.

I still have a fondness for the pine trees in the small alley on Nguyen Van Cu Street. Nearly 30 years ago, when I first set foot on Pleiku, a friend took me here on a sunny afternoon. The small alley is pretty, clean, and cool under the rustling pine trees. Occasionally, the winds play a game of tag, making the rays of sunlight slanting through the treetops sparkle with color.

My friend said, it seems that not many people remember the age of the tree. When you grew up, the pine trees had stretched their leaves high. You had innocent childhood years beside this pine tree. And, not only you. As the years passed, the pine trees silently witnessed many changes in life. The sound of the tree's life was therefore imbued with many stories of human life. Since then, whenever I was tired and sad, I often stopped in the small alley. It seemed that, just standing under the tree, listening to the whistling wind mixed with the sunlight, I felt how gentle and loving life was.

I have read in many documents that pine forests have great value in regulating the climate. Therefore, the vast green pine forests not only help to cover the barren hills but also create an ecological environment, further contributing to poverty reduction for local people. Then the green pine forests in Hoi Phu ward, planted in the late 70s of the last century, do not also have this mission. Over the past decades, thousands of pine trees have silently absorbed minerals to grow tall and mature as a gratitude to those who contributed to bringing green to the plateau.

And like the people of the mountain town, the pine trees here have a quiet, peaceful look before all changes. The pine trees are quietly green, persistently green through many rainy and sunny seasons. Perhaps that is why, every early morning when passing through the alley, I often look up at the tall foliage, listening to the sound of the wind through each branch. A familiar yet strange sound, both like the call of heaven and earth and the whisper of memories.

Those rows of pine trees have also witnessed many generations of people attached to Pleiku. From students going to school under the pine trees to young couples holding hands in the misty dream, in the endless seasons of life. Then people from far away come to visit the old town, silently looking at the green pine trees and remembering a time of youth. Everything seems to have changed, only the pine trees still keep their old colors and shapes, as if wanting to hold on to a bit of peace in today's hurried life.

In the afternoon, when the sun was slanting to the west, the pine trees glowed with a brilliant yellow. The light filtered through each layer of leaves, casting small, dancing spots of light on the road like the rays of the rising sun. Sometimes, I caught a few dry pine cones falling quietly and gently to the ground, sounding a little vague, like the mist and wind of May.

Once, I tried to depict that row of pine trees in my memory, but in reality, I could not fully capture its beauty. Perhaps, people only realize how much they love something when it is suddenly gone. People realize the pain when they see a hundred-year-old pine tree fall in the recent storm No. 13 (Kalmaegi). The tree fell like a big gap in the cool green pine canopy, like my feelings and the feelings of many people who love pine trees in Pleiku. Then next season, people will plant a new pine tree to replace it, but to have a tree that grows tall, spreads its canopy, and rustles in the wind, it takes a lifetime.

Now, every time I pass by the old alley, looking at the rows of pine trees still leaning in the wind, I feel my heart sink. Perhaps, it is thanks to those rows of pine trees that Pleiku has its own unique, charming appearance. Under the pine trees, we can hear the whispers of the earth, feel the heartbeat of the mountain town. And amidst today’s changes, that enduring green color is still like a gentle reminder of a land that is both simple and passionately loving. Tomorrow, and tomorrow after that, the pine trees will still appear, making people, no matter how far away they go, still want to return, to stand under the pine trees and listen to the wind blowing through the slopes of youthful memories.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/duoi-nhung-tang-thong-post571736.html