In nature's cycle, decay and growth entwine – like the gnarled beauty of an ancient tree, a testament to life's ebbs and flows. Our grandmothers, too, bear the marks of time, their stories etched like rings in wood. Yet in their decay, wisdom blooms; in their lines, beauty remains. This artwork celebrates the profound connection between the wisdom of older women and the ancient, gnarled beauty of grandmother trees. Like the trees, our elders stand as testament to the cycles of growth, decay, and renewal that shape life. In their stories, we find the roots of our own strength; in their decay, a reflection of our own cycle of life. This piece honours the beauty of aging, the wisdom forged in decay.
"In the forest's heart, a grandmother tree stands tall,
Her roots run deep, like wisdom's ancient call.
She's seen it all – the seasons' ebb and flow,
The birth and death of worlds, in endless grow.
Her branches gnarled, like arthritic hands,
Crude sculptures of a life well-spanned.
Yet in her decay, new life begins,
A cycle of growth, where death and life entwine.
Her whispers echo, through the forest air,
A gentle guidance, for those who care.
She teaches us to let go, to release,
To find the beauty in decay, like a sigh that brings peace.
In her decay, we find our own,
A reflection of life's fleeting tone.
The older we grow, the more we know,
That wisdom's roots are watered by the tears we sow.
Like the grandmother tree, our elders stand,
A testament to life's intricate plan.
Their stories etched, like rings within the wood,
A map of love, of loss, of all that's withstood.
This piece is apart of the 2026 International Women's Day Exhibition 'Her Voice: Stories of Strength & Identity'.
