Under the Maple Tree: Inspired by Rick Sparkes + The Enablers

The following piece is inspired by Rick Sparkes + The Enablers' Japanese Maple, which compares the death of a tree to the death of a relationship. Throughout the piece are many instances of imagery portraying war and battle that was used to bring tension to the song as well as strengthen the themes of death and the falling of a relationship. When listening to Sparkes' piece it reminded me of the treatment of the Japanese people in Canada during WWII. Explained by the words portraying war and the name of the song as well as Sparkes' focus on Canada in his other pieces. Despite Sparkes informing me that the treatment of the Japanese people in Canada during WWII wasn't a part in the creation of Japanese Maple, all of the themes and connections I created were already strong inside my mind. After reaching out to Sparkes I used the themes that I gathered from these pieces and utilised them to create a new story that he has later read and enjoyed. Many of the symbols and imagery used in Japanese Maple have been repurposed to tell the story found in Under the Maple Tree. If you are a fan of Japanese Maple I encourage you to find connections between my piece and Sparkes' piece.

Thank you Sparkes, not only for the tunes but for being an inspiring and intriguing English teacher.

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