Tales of drought, fire, flood, and disease are picked out in a clear sylvan calligraphy.
This wrinkled skin, fissured through the grace of years is a landscape in its own right.
Mountains and valleys run along its surface which are abundant with the small life of the ecology.
This abode of oak sits at the centre of the universe for many. Yet, it is just one tree in a forest of millions.
In turn, the great forest of Los Alcornacales merges into the even greater one of Grazalema and so on in an ever expanding spiral.
All is linked and whatever happens to this lone tree will reverberate throughout the web of life.
This reverberation can be one of awe and tenderness from our Sapient kind or can be the harsh note of the cotters axe.
Each and every moment is rich in the possibility of choice for us and how we choose to interact with the great Nexus of life.
The role of men is changing in the 21st century. Want to keep up? Get the best stories from The Good Men Project delivered straight to your inbox, here.
Photo: Quercus suber at Los Tornos. Courtesy of the author.
