That. Was. Beautiful.

I've always found that topic difficult, even from the other side: How do you describe an elf communicating with a tree without sounding totally kitschy or artificial? And I imagine that turning the POV around and writing from the tree's perspective would be even harder. How do you do that when you don't knwo how sentient a tree might be. But you managed - and convincingly, too! What you write sounds near enough to a human's experience or perception of the world that we can understand the story, that we can understand the tree. But in some ways it always stays alien, always stays a lifeform of its own. Brilliant!

I must say, this story reminded my a little of "The Fountain" - maybe simply because of the motif of the tree as a life-giving entity that lives through the ages. It's certainly preferably to thinking of "The Last Unicorn", where the wizard Schmendrick is almost hugged to death by a huge-bosomed tree:)

I think you´ve written a little masterpiece here. It´s a very beautiful story; i like the idea, it´s original and interesting, and you have made something great out of it! Capturing from the first sentence.

Your descriptions of the tree are wonderful, and I love your style of writing; it´s so poetical and beautiful and very accurate. The way you cut of sentences and just don´t write according to rules gives the text a good flow and emotion. I don´t exactly know how to explain but I´m talking about sentences like this one: "Precious, tender, opening - like a word quietly spoken, like a frail butterfly wing - the first leaf." Nothing your english teacher would enjoy, but I love it! ;)

The story is written in past tense, but "...he HAS heard tales about Old Man Willow..." Am I wrong or shouldn´t this be in the same tempus? I noticed you change tempus more than this once, but just here it sounds wrong to me. But it could just be me misunderstanding :)

Again, very nice story. I totally love it. Keep up the good work! :D