the tempered tree

I was going to my Pilates class this afternoon and passed an area of woodland that hadn't been cleared up after the December cyclone as there were dead trees still lying around everywhere.  One living tree caught my eye as it had several large branches sticking out of it that had obviously died and been bleached by the sun.  The foliage was also rather peculiar as it seemed to surround the remaining branches making the tree rather an odd shape.

Despite the look of the tree it gave off a great feeling of aliveness that encompassed not only the very green leaves, but also the life it had experienced as shown in its dead branches sticking out different angles.  This was a very individual tree that was celebrating its individuality and I really enjoyed that.