Much to be sad about.

I like the graphic quality of this image. The dark shapes form a nice pattern on the bark. However, somehow I feel this is an image that tells a story. I'm not sure what's the liquid on the bark or why it's sad. Perhaps a description of what's going on here could be provided for the dense like myself.

I often ask myself if i should include the background of the trunk as you have done, or to just include the bark of the trunk.  If the background helps tell your story, I would say include it.  I probably could figure out it was a tree without isolating from the background, so maybe crop it out?  Not sure if that would be too abstract?  So, was it your impression that the tree was crying?  Looks like it may have been water dripping from above?

While I do like the earth tones in the BG I think this is even stronger with it cropped out as it makes the details in the tree bark even more prominent IMO, Ronald. I am not sure what you are referring to with the title, but my first thought was of our dysfunctional Republican controlled government.

Ed

Ed - Yes, as always, but there are also any number of recent events.

Interesting reference to being sad.  As a quarantine officer, I am mindful of the many tree pests that we are dealing with from foreign locations that have invaded and are killing, particularly, the Western Sycamore trees in Southern California. Polyphagous Shot hole borers, gold-spotted oak borers, Kuroshiro borers, etc., etc.

It's enough to make the trees weep....

I find the blak areas against the white trunk most interesting, but would be inclined to crop out the background.