Dearly departed olive trees,
You put your faith in our hands and we failed you. But although you are gone, you are not forgotten. In your name, we have planted 108 small cypress trees. They will live on our land, just a stone's throw from your previous Marrakesh home. There they will stand guard, running along two walls. We dug the Moroccan earth with our own hands to plant them. We thought loving thoughts. We measured the distance from the wall so that they would be placed just right. We patted the ground with care. We bought a special drip hose to make sure that they won't go thirsty. We planted two beds of flowers nearby so they could gaze on loveliness.
I know it's not enough. I know that these small trees can't replace your majestic beauty. But does it help to know that cypress can grow very tall, 50 feet, 100 feet or more? And did you know that cypress may live more than 12 centuries? And perhaps most out of the ordinary, some scholars consider cypress the right translation for Gopher wood, used by Noah to construct the ark.
And so you see, we did not choose just any tree to replace you, but something special.
For you, this humble offering. Gone but not forgotten.
Love,
Maryam in Marrakesh
