And then one night the tree had a beautiful dream…

Remember that ‘90s bumper sticker, “Practice Random Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty”? If it seemed somehow easier said than done, or nearly impossible to comprehend, or just plain cloying, here’s a fine example of the concept in practice.

This morning, a mandala of pink and orange flowers appeared surrounding a tree on the corner of Wall Street. The intricate pattern, arranged on the metal grate surrounding the tree, is stunningly gorgeous on its own (similar mandalas, likely by the same anonymous artist, have appeared around Asheville before), but the tree is also strung with flower garlands. Passersby stopped on their way to work, taking photos and reading the piece of writing attached to the trunk of the tree. Many echoed the sentiment of one woman who said, “My shift starts in one minute and I don’t want to leave!”

Take a moment to read the story posted on the tree, if you’re passing by. It tells of the tree that did not choose its home, but nonetheless grew happily in its corner of the city, watching people and listening to street musicians. And then one night the tree had a beautiful dream, that it blossomed into song. And the next morning, while many people still passed by in a hurry, others were drawn to the tree where they lingered and listened.

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About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall

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2 thoughts on “And then one night the tree had a beautiful dream…

  1. Bettina Finney

    This is what makes the world a sweeter place.
    It’s amazing the difference just one person can make :)

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