As she passed by, she stopped beside a leaning cypress tree that had fallen onto the road and put her arms around it, saying, "Hello, little tree, you're doing great, keep it up!" I was surprised and chuckled at her actions, but she wasn't joking at all: "Let me introduce you, this is my cypress tree, my friend." Then she waved to the two trees next to her: "Hello, my two neighbors," and turned to me with a smile: "I have to greet my neighbors too, otherwise they'll be sad." At that moment, I saw that not only her mouth was smiling, but her eyes were smiling, her whole being was smiling; it was so joyful, so happy.

Her "friend" is a tree with no top but lush green branches and leaves. She recounted the story in detail, as if she were a tree caretaker: "It survived a storm, 'falling' at a 45° angle, yet it's still standing today. That year the storm was very strong; many trees in the park fell, but this one broke off its top and tilted, refusing to fall completely. When they were building the pedestrian walkway along the Perfume River, the construction workers took pity on it and left it there, so now it's 'impressive,' leaning out over the road like this, everyone passing by has to wrap their arms around it."

I imitated her, leaning past the tree and patting its trunk, laughing and saying loudly, "Hello, Lim Xet!" Anyone who saw us at that moment would probably say we were crazy. "But why is it not normal to love a tree, talk to it, and hug it? I feel happy, like I've met a friend again. Science has proven that trees can sense human emotions and communicate with humans!" she said.

What she said made me realize that the people of Hue had already proven this before scientists. For a very long time, the people of Hue have loved trees, considering them as friends, a fact reflected in their way of life and customs from the past, and even today, such as when someone in the family dies, the trees in the garden are tied with white cloth as a sign of mourning.

This season, the crape myrtle trees are blooming with yellow flowers, adding charm to the blue sky. My sister's friend's crape myrtle tree, after being damaged by the storm, remains green and hasn't flowered. She told me, "The two crape myrtle trees next door are in full bloom, so beautiful, but I still feel sorry for this crape myrtle tree that doesn't flower. For a tree, simply surviving is precious. No one knows how much pain it endured after its top was broken off; maintaining this vibrant green color is already a testament to its resilience. It's okay if it doesn't flower."

I asked, "How is it to be friends with a tree?" She answered without much thought, as if she had known it for a long time: "It's a quiet, peaceful joy. I'm in business, and sometimes I get stressed out, my head aches terribly, and no medicine helps. Then, during the two years of the COVID pandemic, business became even more stressful. I went for a walk in the park and came across this tree. Looking at it, I felt both compassion and motivation. Sometimes I would sit beside it for a long time, gazing at it and feeling very comforted. I believe this resilient tree has given me a powerful source of energy in silence. Since then, I often visit the tree and consider it my friend."

We sat and rested on a park bench. The lush green foliage provided a cool, soothing breeze overhead. Looking along the river, the banks were covered in soft green grass, the flowers and foliage were vibrant, and the city was picturesque. Having traveled extensively and seen burnt fields, one realizes that the greenery of Hue is a precious heritage, a legacy that generations have cultivated, nurtured, and preserved along the rivers and streams of the forest. Befriending a tree is a way to open one's heart to nature, to find peace within it, and also a way for people to befriend their homeland, as the ancients once said: "Wandering leisurely, enjoying the peaceful scenery / The plum blossom is an old friend, the crane is an acquaintance" (Nguyen Du).

Nguyen Khoa Dieu Ha

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/lam-ban-voi-cay-153130.html