I prefer keeping in mind even the possibility
that existence has its own reason for being.
— Wisława Szymborska, “Possibilities”
We were committed tree-huggers, yet we were scientists first. Space-X and Amazon Foundation sponsored our team to study the White Mountain bristlecone pines to figure out how to mimic their hardiness via gene engineering. Humankind’s hourglass had no flips left. Shuttles were on standby to the earth-orbiting ships.
Congress lifted all protections from the trees. The UN Assembly suspended the bill of human rights so prisoners could be test subjects. Musk built us the desert lab and Bezos filled it with equipment. Nat Geo recorded and broadcast updates globally.
The cones went first. A year later each tree had been cross-sectioned. They had the last word – we would be no more.
Would humans come back in another form? Or would we exist as wandering ghosts, finally harmless? I prefer keeping in mind even the possibility that existence has its own reason for being.
[144 words]
About the top image, taken by Rick Goldwaser on 11/29/08: This is a long exposure taken after sunset in the Bristlecone Pine Forest of the White Mountains in California. This particular grove of bristlecones are the oldest living things on the planet, many of them are over 4000 years old and the oldest has been dated to over 4700 years.
What I find particularly fascinating about the bristlecone pine is that they generally compete poorly in less-than-harsh environments, making them hard to cultivate. In gardens, they succumb quickly to root rot. They do very well, however, where most other plants cannot even grow, such as in rocky dolomitic soils in areas with virtually no rainfall. I’ve been thinking about them since seeing a photo a week or so ago and how the tree appears almost completely dead except for a few spindly green sprouts.
Merril is today’s host of dVerse’ Prosery. Merril says:
Since this is prosery, I’ve chosen one line from [Szymborska’s] poem, “Possibilities,” which you must incorporate into a piece of prose. This can be either flash fiction, nonfiction, or creative nonfiction, but it must be prose! And it must be no longer than 144 words, not including the title.
Tao Talk 
Oh my gosh Lisa- I LOVE this! And thanks for the knowledge on the bristlecone pine.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Linda glad you enjoyed the story. My pleasure on info on the bristlecone pine. I just read your story and loved how you took it one step further.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I really did enjoy it. You do sci-fi so well.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The image is gorgeous! What an interesting existence the Bristlecone lives and has survived through.
I find this piece a bit frightening because there are details that are rooted in our world today, but you draw them out to frightening conclusions. Will we survive? Such a question to ponder….most especially when you take facts of today and stretch them out and out and out….hopefully this is not their logical conclusions!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Lillian. Sci Fi is a genre I like to write. I hope we are either wise enough or otherwise compelled to do what it takes to save our species.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is incredibly riveting, Lisa! I love the questions that you pose here especially; “Would humans come back in another form? Or would we exist as wandering ghosts, finally harmless?” That remains to be seen, my friend 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Many thanks, Sanaa, glad you liked the story.
LikeLike
This is a scary story filled with wondrous possibility. Thank you for all the info on the bristlecone pine. That’s fascinating how they have survived. Also, the music–I was thinking of this piece not too long ago! It’s one that resonates in me. I remember it being played long ago during Ken Burn’s Civil War series way back when that was on for the first time.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you. I like how you describe the story, Merril. I knew that song sounded familiar but didn’t remember from where. Thanks for the jog 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome, Lisa!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes it exists, but on its own terms. I love learning about this tree and your story nailed the challenge. Wonderful Lisa ☺️
LikeLiked by 2 people
Christine, thank you ❤
LikeLike
Oh, I could imagine this scenario actually happening, frighteningly! What fascinating trees though: I had no idea there was any living thing so old on the earth!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I knew about these trees but nothing beyond that they could live a long time. When I finally saw a pic and how most of the tree is dead it got me interested in learning more about them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have soon doomed ourselves to a desperate mission like this.. Earth will recover, and I wonder if ever someone will come looking for humanity and wonder about the folly of us.
LikeLiked by 2 people
As ancient and vast as the cosmos is, there’s at least a chance.. When I think of macro vs. micro, if we were a micro, say a leaf lying in the forest, what would the odds be of someone finding us out there in the forest? We’re a part of “something” but how big we are in the scheme of things is anyone’s guess.
LikeLike
Gorgeous photo, enjoyed your musings of human kind’s forward thrust
Enjoyed the music
Much💜love
LikeLiked by 2 people
Gillena, thanks much ❤
LikeLike
You already know how much I love trees and get excited about ones I haven’t come across before. I knew nothing of Bristlecone Pines or tat there was even a forest of them, and I love them, especially as they are ancient and do well where most other plants can’t even grow. I love the photograph! And your sci-ci prose piece, which isn’t far from the truth! Tree-hugging scientists really appeal to me, as did the sentence: ‘Humankind’s hourglass had no flips left’.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, I do 🙂 It’s an amazing species of tree. Hoping to take a trip out to see them at some point, along with so many other things once travel opens up. Thank you very much for your lovely comment, Kim.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, the complexities … And the moral choices … Nice!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Many thanks, Na’ama!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love how you’ve incorporated the theme with the idea that humans are going to herald their own end with their stupidity.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks much, Sadje.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very good Lisa! That is one gnarly tree! I believe the earth and plants will survive long after we are gone.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think so also, Dwight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lisa Lisa Lisa — loved this bit of futurism! Excellent my friend!
LikeLiked by 2 people
And great pic…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks much, Rob, glad you liked the story and the pic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Intrigued by the bristlecones and impressed by your story! I enjoyed how you used politics of the UN plus Musk and Bezos during our end times. It is a technocracy. Existence has a plan I’m sure and I think we won’t be pawned off on other planets! 💯
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL I love your comment, Tricia. I hope not!
LikeLiked by 1 person
i have discovered a new tree today. thank you great take on the prompy to
LikeLiked by 2 people
Happy to introduce you to the new tree 🙂 Thanks, Rog!
LikeLike
I’m amazed at how in 144 words you build this world with crusaders for the trees. I really enjoyed your piece and want to hear more about the tree-huggers adventures.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, K.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lisa, wow, as usual. I love how you managed to turn this into fiction – I couldn’t disassociate myself from the line enough to do so. You are a fantastic writer.
Yours,
David
LikeLiked by 2 people
I appreciate your thoughtful comment, David.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The picture…it looks so twisted and you can almost see faces in it….love the music also Lisa…makes me feel at home.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I want to go see these trees up close and also the redwoods. It would be fun to do a tree tour, which I may just do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I’ve always wanted to see a redwood…I love these trees also. They are beautiful on one hand but nightmares could be built around them in another.
LikeLiked by 2 people
What scares you about the redwoods? I’m sure I’d feel like an ant next to one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no… these trees you featured…I love them but they are so twisted…it’s like they have a long terrible story to tell.
LikeLiked by 2 people
OH! I’m sure they do, but that’s what makes them interesting. Imagining how many stories you could tell from living 4000 years…
LikeLiked by 1 person
They do talk also…certain things about them does tell a story. I looked at your post late last night and I saw faces in the tree…really cool…you know…things about it that looked like faces staring out.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Loved your story, and glad to discover more about the pinecone.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Bristlecone
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Jude. Hopefully the scientists missed some of them so they can resprout after we’re gone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes please, I hope 🙏🏽😃
LikeLiked by 2 people
sock it to em Lisa! Hoping your futuristic sci fi motivates at least one person to lessen their carbon footprint …
Those trees are a total work of art, surreal, they speak to me … thanks for planting the seed of awareness
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Kate. I see a powerful metaphor for humans in those trees.
LikeLiked by 1 person
absolutely, they like like wisened Yoda’s
LikeLiked by 2 people
Love the way your mind creates, Lisa. Sci fi is not my forte. Meanwhile so many outcomes we couldn’t even have imagined have already transpired. Especially liked the impact of this line…”Humankind’s hourglass had no flips left.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Many thanks, Mish. I feel we are on a trajectory we will not sway from. Even if every person on the planet fully committed to saving the planet today, it may be too late (without outside intervention of one form or another.)
LikeLike