The Methuselah tree, named after the biblical figure Methuselah who lived to be 969 years old, is a bristlecone pine tree located in the White Mountains of California. It is widely recognized as one of the oldest living organisms on Earth, estimated to be over 4,800 years old. The exact location of the Methuselah tree is kept secret to prevent vandalism and damage. It was discovered in the 1950s by Dr. Edmund Schulman, who was a renowned dendrochronologist. Dendrochronology is the scientific method of dating tree rings to study past climate patterns and events.
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The people who live near it are forced to harvest its fruit every three days and then take the fruit elsewhere, lest they be punished for eating from it themselves. The people who live near it are forced to harvest its fruit every three days and then take the fruit elsewhere, lest they be punished for eating from it themselves.
Dendrochronology is the scientific method of dating tree rings to study past climate patterns and events. The Methuselah tree has survived for thousands of years due to its unique ability to adapt and thrive in harsh conditions. Bristlecone pines have evolved to grow in high-altitude areas with rocky, nutrient-poor soils and extreme weather conditions including freezing temperatures and high winds.
Methuselsh tree curae
Once you had garden of Eden,
Now you have this. Vegas.
A playpen in the desert. Bliss.
Here, 5,000 years of Civilization
Can be experienced in an instant.
Have a nice day. Enjoy.
For in a flash it could all be over.
Kings, emperors, deities
Craven images cast in plaster, neon lit.
Look on my works,
Ye mighty, and despair.
The smell of money in the air
A tawdry son-et-lumière
(A one-way street going nowhere.)
Your immortals are mortal, they were once flesh and blood.
Escape the delusion, the noise and pollution,
The true immortals are made out of wood.
They call us Bristlecone Pines.
They call me Methuselah.
Methuselah, Methuselah, this human
christens me, for he has counted
The candles on my cake. 4,600.
Am celebrity now and no mistake.
Am named. Am given voice.
The years, like necklaces bestow
a wisdom, humankind can never know.
Millennia, they come and go.
Have no eyes, but have seen it all
Ancient civilizations that you can
Only read about, Methuselah has sensed.
Am not part of history. No,
History is parts of me.
Unlike words, tree-rings never lie.
One year was freezing cold and dark
The sun was hidden in the sky
I tasted brimstone and it left its mark
Like a noose tightening, like a charred wreath.
What is this thing, I thought, called death?
You can read me like a book
Open me up and take a look:
History laid bare, a garland here
a crown there. Plain as a pikestaff
for all to see. Each year jotted down by me.
The state of the nation, an annual report
in ever decreasing circles. The wheels
of fortune, the cycles of despair.
If I had lungs I would be coughing
A throat, I would be parched
If I had eyes they would be stinging
Flesh, it would be scorched.
Sulfur, smoke and cinders
enfold me like a shroud
There is no silver lining
only poison in this cloud.
Water, water everywhere and not a drop.
To think that down there, battery trees
Like plumped up turkeys stand proud and vain.
Bloated and unaware that they are but a switch's
throw away from death.
Water, water not forever.
For twenty-four hours a day, fountains play,
Spraying graffiti that mocks a desert kept at bay.
But nature has a way of saying "Enough."
After the pride there comes the fall
After the boom, the bust.
Remember man that thou art dust,
And unto dust.
Men drop to the earth like leaves
Lives as brief as footprints in snow.
Bristlecones enthroned on top of the world
Watch civilizations come and go.
They seek our secret, immortality,
But search in vain, for it is vanity.
If truth be known I would rather
be a flower, or a leaf that lives
and breathes with brief intensity.
My life is as thin as the wind
And I am done with counting stars.
On the side of this mountain
I might live forever,
Could you imagine anything worse?
My name is Methuselah and this is my curse.
| Roger McGough is one of Britain's most celebrated poets. The author of more than 50 books of poetry, McGough is a regular contributor on BBC Radio's "Poetry Please" and the World Service. McGough won a Tony award for his lyrics in the Broadway production of The Wind in the Willows and was nominated for an Emmy for his lyrics in the film version of The Wind in the Willows. He co-authored the script for the 1968 movie Yellow Submarine. McGough received the Order of the British Empire in 1997. He lives in London. |
If I had lungs I would be coughing
A throat, I would be parched
If I had eyes they would be stinging
Flesh, it would be scorched.
Their twisted and gnarled trunks are an adaptation to these harsh environments. The growth rate of the Methuselah tree is incredibly slow, with only a few millimeters added to its trunk's diameter each year. This slow growth results in dense, compact wood which helps the tree resist decay and survive for millennia. In fact, some dead bristlecone pines can still stand for thousands of years due to their resistance to decomposition. The Methuselah tree's age has been determined by counting its annual growth rings, as well as through radiocarbon dating. The oldest section of the tree dates back to around 2833 BCE, making it one of the oldest living organisms on Earth. The tree's age has provided valuable insights into climate change and environmental conditions throughout history. Efforts are taken to protect and preserve the Methuselah tree, and access to it is restricted. Its exact location is known only to a few scientists and researchers. Visitors to the White Mountains can learn more about the Methuselah tree and its significance at the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center, where replicas of the oldest living trees are displayed. The Methuselah tree serves as a symbol of resilience and longevity, standing as a living testament to the passage of time. Its ability to survive and adapt in extreme conditions is a reminder of the incredible strength and endurance of nature. The Methuselah tree is a remarkable natural wonder that continues to inspire awe and wonder in all who learn of its existence..
Reviews for "The Connection Between Methuselah Tree Care and Climate Change"
1. Megan - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Methuselsh tree curae". The plot was confusing and hard to follow, with too many unnecessary subplots that distracted from the main storyline. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard for me to connect with them or care about their fates. Additionally, the writing style was overly descriptive and verbose, which made the pacing sluggish. Overall, I found this book to be a tedious and frustrating read.
2. Jake - 1 star - This book was a complete waste of time. "Methuselsh tree curae" had a promising premise, but it failed to deliver on every level. The writing was convoluted and pretentious, filled with unnecessary metaphors and flowery language that added nothing to the story. The plot was a jumbled mess, jumping between different timelines and perspectives without any clear direction. I couldn't make sense of what was happening half the time, and the characters were forgettable and uninteresting. I had to force myself to finish this book, and I regretted every minute of it.
3. Laura - 2.5 stars - "Methuselsh tree curae" had potential, but it fell flat for me. The concept of immortality and the Methuselah tree was intriguing, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was slow, and it took too long for the story to pick up momentum. The characters felt one-dimensional and their motivations were unclear. I also found the descriptions overly detailed and often unnecessary, distracting from the overall narrative. While the book had some interesting ideas, it failed to engage me fully and left me feeling unsatisfied.
4. Brian - 2 stars - I was not a fan of "Methuselsh tree curae". The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, with too many unnecessary tangents that added nothing to the story. The characters were poorly developed, lacking depth or relatability. The writing style was heavy and overly descriptive, which made it difficult for me to stay engaged. Overall, I found this book to be a tedious and confusing read, and I wouldn't recommend it to others.