At the Boundary of the Fig

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 I stand south of this steadfast fig,

where earth whispers its quiet limits,

and I feel the weight of unspoken boundaries-

a mirror to our own.

The old fig leans with patience-

half in the sun, half in argument,

roots gripping what they know,

branches reaching beyond their reach.


The neighbors’ voices drift like leaves-

they see only what is crossing lines,

shade that encroaches, fruit that falls astray.

They call it theft, an obstacle, a risk,

a green obstruction too much,

too close, too unruly.


But I watch in silence-

I learn its language without words,

how it waits through seasons,bare, patient-

then suddenly spills green into the air,

how sweetness arrives quietly,

without fanfare or warning.


And I wonder-

how often do we judge what we do not understand?

How often do we see only boundaries,

and forget the life that exists within them?

The fig teaches humility-

that strength lies in quiet endurance,

that beauty blooms in patience,

and that true respect requires us

to see beyond our borders.


I notice the birds that come before dawn,

squirrels stitching movement into its branches,

insects knowing its secrets by heart.

The ground beneath stays cool-

a quiet refuge, even in the fiercest heat.


Sometimes, a child pauses near its shadow,

eyes bright with wonder, listening.

She sees only leaves, a crown of gold,

a place where light dances,

where secrets hide in every fold.


An artist stops,his hand still-

tracing the bark’s rough texture,

the sunlight filtering through leaves-

he seeks to capture what cannot be caught,

knowing that the essence slips through his grasp.


And I, standing here,

feel the sap pulse, a gentle upward rush,

roots traveling quietly beyond borders,

life continuing without permission,

without asking, just being.


This fig asks me-

how much are you willing to see?

And more-how much are we willing to respect?

To honor the boundaries of others-

be they trees, land, or fellow humans-

with humility and care?


I think of an Jackfruit tree  I once knew-

how some saw only weight and shadow,

while others found worlds inside its bark.

The same is true for us-

we all carry stories, depths, and dreams.

This fig reminds me-

the greatest strength is humility,

the deepest wisdom is listening,

and the truest humanity lies

in recognizing the sacred in boundaries.


I rest my hand on its rugged skin,

feeling the weight of years,

the stories held in every scar.

The neighbors measure space-

I measure time,

the slow, steady growth of understanding.


Between us stands this fig-

not speaking, not defending itself,

simply being what it is-

a testament in silence.


And in that quiet, I realize-

the tree does not need my voice.

It only needs my willingness-

to stand here, to see it whole,

to respect its boundary,

and in doing so, remember:

our humanity grows strongest

when we honor the sacred limits of all life-

including our own.

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