{"id":55987,"title":"Kyrra, The Wave-Tree of West Kirby","description":"From the Greengatherer\u2019s JournalKyrra leans towards the Dee.  Everyone can see this.  She stands near the marine lake at West Kirby, shaped by years of wind coming across open water","content":"

From the Greengatherer\u2019s Journal<\/strong><\/p>

Kyrra leans towards the Dee.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Everyone can see this.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

She stands near the marine lake at West Kirby, shaped by years of wind coming across open water. Her trunk rises at an angle and her long branches sweep towards the shore as though caught permanently in a gust.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

There is nothing particularly mysterious about that.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The difficulty is that I am no longer certain she always leans the same way.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\"bywzw5m0oixbb2asc42nlj7nfmnzyw1jnqidcpyslxflciyn.jpg.jpg?w=1140&project=beastly-boroughs-416041&v=2\"<\/p>

Low Water<\/strong><\/p>

I first noticed this one afternoon when the tide was far out.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The Dee had retreated across the flats, leaving an enormous pale space between West Kirby and the distant water.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Kyrra's branches reached towards it.<\/p>

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I sat nearby and made a quick drawing.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Tree.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Shore.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Branches pointing out across the sand.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Nothing unusual.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Then I went for something to eat.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

This proved unexpectedly important.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The Return<\/strong><\/p>

When I came back, the tide had turned.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Water was beginning to work its way across the flats again, filling channels and slowly reclaiming the open sand.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I passed Kyrra.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Then stopped.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Something was wrong.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Her branches seemed lower than before.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Not dramatically.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Just enough.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I took out my earlier drawing.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The sketch was not particularly good, but it was good enough.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I looked at Kyrra.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I looked at the drawing.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Then at Kyrra again.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cHave you moved?\u201d<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The wind immediately blew several leaves into my face.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I chose not to interpret this as an answer.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Watching Kyrra<\/strong><\/p>

I stayed.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

As the water returned, Kyrra's long branches moved gently in the wind.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

There was nothing unusual in that.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

But every so often I became convinced that the whole tree had altered by the smallest amount.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Not bending in a gust.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Settling.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

As though Kyrra were leaning closer to something approaching across the flats.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I marked the position of one branch against a distant rooftop.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Twenty minutes later, it no longer lined up.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

That was evidence.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Unfortunately, it was also a tree in the wind.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I needed something better.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

High Water<\/strong><\/p>

I returned the next morning close to high tide.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The great empty flats had disappeared beneath water.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Kyrra was standing almost upright.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I stared at her.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Then I checked where I was standing.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Then I moved several yards to the left in case perspective was responsible.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Kyrra remained more upright.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I walked to the other side.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Still upright.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

A man sitting nearby asked whether I had lost something.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cMy tree appears to have moved,\u201d I said.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

He looked at Kyrra.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cShe's always doing that.\u201d<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I waited for more.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

None came.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cDoing what?\u201d<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

But he had already returned to his newspaper.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The Wave-Tree<\/strong><\/p>

I have tried several times since to settle the matter.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The results have been unhelpful.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Sometimes Kyrra leans towards the distant water at low tide.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Sometimes she doesn't.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Once I was certain her branches had risen as the tide returned.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

On another occasion I watched for nearly an hour and she behaved impeccably like a tree.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

The wind makes comparison almost impossible.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Perhaps that is why Kyrra chose West Kirby.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Or perhaps the wind has nothing to do with it.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

There is an old thought amongst those who know the Treefolk that Kyrra does not watch the tide.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

She feels it.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I haven't found out who first said this.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

I haven't found out whether it is true either.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

But sometimes, when the Dee withdraws and the great flats open again, I look towards Kyrra.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Her branches stretch towards the distant water.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

And for just a moment it is difficult to decide whether the wind shaped the Wave-Tree<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

or whether Kyrra is reaching for the sea.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

-<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>From the Greengatherer\u2019s Journal<\/strong><\/p>","urlTitle":"kyrra-the-wave-tree-of-west-kirby","url":"\/blog\/kyrra-the-wave-tree-of-west-kirby\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/kyrra-the-wave-tree-of-west-kirby\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/beastlyboroughs.com\/blog\/kyrra-the-wave-tree-of-west-kirby\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1776357206,"updatedAt":1788968150,"publishedAt":1788968150,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":405864,"name":"Beastly Boroughs"},"tags":[{"id":4548,"code":"the-green-gatherersjournal","name":"TheGreenGatherersjournal","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/the-green-gatherersjournal\/"}],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/lvxr7nzh6kzx5jfpzd8eobtvtem1rdpdkqrwiha0yfxuk9w9.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/lvxr7nzh6kzx5jfpzd8eobtvtem1rdpdkqrwiha0yfxuk9w9.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/lvxr7nzh6kzx5jfpzd8eobtvtem1rdpdkqrwiha0yfxuk9w9.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":55964,"title":"Meet the Greengatherer \u2014 Walking the Peninsula","url":"\/blog\/meet-the-greengatherer-walking-the-peninsula\/","urlTitle":"meet-the-greengatherer-walking-the-peninsula","division":405864,"description":"When the wind turns from the sea and the light begins to change, I find myself walking again.  The air carries salt and leaf together. Grass shifts","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/urqfwx4ql0sc1n4eeik3ecnqfumjhvcnipn7uf858juezvx3.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/urqfwx4ql0sc1n4eeik3ecnqfumjhvcnipn7uf858juezvx3.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":55966,"title":"When the Roots Begin to Stir","url":"\/blog\/when-the-roots-begin-to-stir\/","urlTitle":"when-the-roots-begin-to-stir","division":405864,"description":"A Spring Entry from the Greengatherer\u2019s Journal The frost has loosened its hold.  I felt it first beneath my feet.  The ground no longer hums with winter\u2019s stillness; instead, there is a quiet stirring below \u2014 a slow unfurling","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/vjxlm0ulpn2hrseew7evoktbhzbe7xhin9nqhdivzxhv3arb.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/vjxlm0ulpn2hrseew7evoktbhzbe7xhin9nqhdivzxhv3arb.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":55982,"title":"Beba, the Beech-Tree of Bebington","url":"\/blog\/beba-the-beech-tree-of-bebington\/","urlTitle":"beba-the-beech-tree-of-bebington","division":405864,"description":"From the Greengatherer\u2019s JournalMorning comes quietly here.  Before the village has fully stirred, before gates open and paths grow busy, light begins to gather across the grass.  Beba stands within it","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/keqxqwh89nnuolssafm6yohmfazhw8q1tgqnz5nisgwkdpqq.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/keqxqwh89nnuolssafm6yohmfazhw8q1tgqnz5nisgwkdpqq.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}