Essay10: Tarim Poplar Forest Park

WE ARRIVED, carrying numerous questions. Treading on ground that seems both real and unreal, hard and soft, like sand but not sand, like soil but not soil, I stand before you, looking up... You stand tall and upright, with countless postures, your golden hue shining in the sunlight all around. I squint my eyes...

Yang is Yang, why “Hu” Yang? “Hu indicates the region where I grow; I am a specific tree species here, the oldest plant in the world. In Uyghur, they call me ‘Toklak,’ meaning ‘the most beautiful tree’.” A calm tone with a hint of pride.

If you're special, ancient, and beautiful, why shed tears? “Child, shedding tears is a form of self-protection! Don’t you know excessive salinity can cause harm? Haven’t you seen the wrinkles and cracks all over my body? You see my tears, but you don’t know my self-inflicted wounds, all for the sake of sustaining life, for healthy growth.” I widened my eyes, feeling the dryness in the air.

“Have you heard of ‘survival of the fittest’?” I nodded. “I can survive for millions of years, withstand cold and drought, resist wind and sand, endure barrenness. Figure out why!” I nodded again. “You humans have two feet to move; our tree family can also move. Think about why! Because of roots!” Suddenly, enlightenment struck.

At this moment, the golden tree crown darkened a bit, and I asked again... I seemed to have unravelled some mysteries but almost carried away a heap of questions. 

Photo / 摄影 : ChiaYT

轮台县胡杨林

我来了，带着无数的疑问。

踩着似实还虚，似硬还软，似沙非沙，似土非土的大地，我站在你的面前，仰望……

你高大挺拔，你姿态万千，你漫天遍野在阳光下透亮的金黄，我眯起了眼……

杨就是杨，为什么是‘胡’杨？

“胡说明了我生长的地域，我是这里特定的树种，是世上最古老的植物。维吾尔语称我为‘托克拉克’即‘最美丽的树’”。平和的语气里夹着淡淡的自豪。

既然特别又古老，加上美丽，那为什么还要流泪？

“孩子，流泪是在自我保护啊！你难道不知过多的盐碱会造成伤害吗？你不见我全身的皱皮裂口吗？你只看我流泪，却不知我的自伤，那是为了维系生命，为了健康成长啊。” 我张大了口，感受到空气的干燥。

“你听过适者生存吧？” 我点点头。

“我能生存亿万年，耐寒耐旱，抗风沙抗贫瘠，你去寻找那是为什么！” 我又点点头。

“你们人类有双脚可以走动，我们这个树族也会移动，你再想想这是为什么！”

“因为根！” 忽然福至心灵。

这时金黄的树冠有点暗了，我再问……

人类称赞你“活千年不死，死千年不倒，倒千年不朽”，你怎么看？

“苏轼不是说过：自其变者而观之，则天地曾不能以一瞬；自其不变者而观之，则物与我皆无尽也！你回去好好想吧！” 下逐客令了。

我张开眼，低下头，转过身，走向来时路。踩下一步，似乎感觉根在游动，刹那明白为何地是既虚且实，既硬似软，那是生命在吐纳呀。

我似乎解疑了，却几乎又带走了一堆问题。