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The Sacred Tree
A hama tree grows near Naldo Rei\'s house in Iralafai, a village on the eastern tip of Lospalos, Timor Leste. The tree stands high and leafy. The grooves on the trunk are like sculptures.
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Illustration: The hama (banyan) tree.
A hama tree grows near Naldo Rei\'s house in Iralafai, a village on the eastern tip of Lospalos, Timor Leste. The tree stands high and leafy. The grooves on the trunk are like sculptures. Its roots grip the ground. Hama, in the Fataluku language, means banyan. The tree has witnessed various events and losses to Naldo Rei\'s family.
At certain times, Naldo complained to the hama tree, stood looking up beneath it. At other times, she imagined herself as a hama tree.