A Tree

This one has been banging around in my head for a long time, and I think it is more complex than the initial read.

A tree.  The seed starts, a few fragile green leaves and an easily bent stem start to grow.  Over the course of a few seasons, the tree becomes more solid, sending out more roots and spreading branches. It becomes substantial, acquires visitors that may benefit (or harm) the tree, and grows.  Over time, some branches die as they become shaded by the higher, more effective branches. Eventually, the trunk may begin to decline and "growth" changes from increasing the size of the structure and the resource collection to maintaining the size and replacing damages that occur each season. The tree may go hollow from pests and lack of protection of the core.  The tree can sustain life for years simply maintaining its size.  Eventually, an event or a stress will show the inherent weakness of the structure and the tree will break and/or die.

I first took this to equate to a city, with the hollowing of the trunk being the development of low income urban housing with high crime rates and low skill levels.

I've also seen this reflected in a small company, with the dropping of branches being an encouraging part of the growth, as long as the wound is sealed over by the bark and doesn't allow in parasites.

There is a lot to work with here, and nearly everyone has seen a tree in all the stages of life.  Pretty powerful imagery.  The city comparison works really well because of the immobility of a tree, comparing the life of a tree to the life of a person is more of a stretch.  Easily done, but not as lasting in impact.

The growth of a community, or a culture, is kinda like the growth of a tree.

more later,
-gs