Education of little tree

Willow John is content to die as long as he becomes part of nature. When Willow John is dying, he lets Granpa and Little Tree know that he wants his body to fertilize an old fir-pine tree. He tells them: “When I have gone, put the body there, close to her. She has dropped many young and warmed me and sheltered me. It will be good. The food will give her two more seasons” ( p. 209). Then he faces west and begins “his passing song, telling the spirits he [is] coming”