English 3-4
Period 4
May 21, 1973

I remember writing this. I think I must have been a little obsessed with Shakespeare at the time since the beginning sounds like the opening lines of Romeo and Juliet, and then I mention a quote from Romeo and Juliet later on.

Reflections on a Life

One solitary tree, alone in its beauty, simple but majestic. This tree, not yet reached adulthood, stands alone, apart from other, older trees. Isn’t it appropriate that this tree be on a high school lawn?

Our tree can pretend to be grown — a giant among dwarfs — for it is surrounded by a forest of elvish tree-like plants. An array of dandelions encircle it. So our special tree is not lonely; it has friends. The sun, the wind and the rain are some. Elements that let it live or die.

What kind of tree is ours? Elm? Locust? Maple? No matter, for to quote William Shakespeare, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet.” That which we call a tree by any other word would be as grand. It still, no matter what kind, will give shade to a weary traveler, protection to a squirrel, and a home to a nest of birds.

In time our tree will grow old, and eventually die, as we will, but before then it will, again as we will, see much happening in its life, changes and the same old things time cannot change, remaining constant.