The Tree, the God of Gods

An 85-year-old neighbor of mine asked if he could meet with me to discuss what he described as a few matters. We walked down an arroyo behind his house, where, in spring, a creek dribbles toward river. As we walked, my neighbor pointed out a huge sycamore tree, the tallest in the forest. That's zeus, he said, of the tree, the god of gods. He called the ginko tree the oldest lady in town. It was the weirdest conversation i have ever had in my life. But now when i walk in the forest, i think of the old man, and his names have become my names. I