I was looking for theories on how seeds become trees but found this instead. It is a beautiful discovery.
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Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree"
Once, there was a tree. And she loved a little boy.
Every day the boy would come and he would gather her leaves and make them into crowns and play King of the Forest. He would climb up her trunk and swing from her branches, and eat apples. And they would play hide-and-go-seek. When he was tired, he would sleep in her shade. The boy loved the tree very much. And the tree was happy.
The time went by and the boy grew older. And the tree was often left alone.
Then one day the boy came to the tree and the tree said, “Come, boy! Come climb up my trunk and swing from my branches, and eat apples and play in my shade.” “I’m too big to climb and play,” said the boy. I want to buy things and have fun. I want some money. Can you give me some money?”
"I'm sorry," said the tree, "But I have no money. I have only leaves and apples…but take my apples, boy. And sell them in the city. Then you will have money and you will be happy." And so the boy climbed up the tree and gathered her apples and carried them away. And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time. And the tree was sad.
And then one day the boy came back and the tree shook with joy and she said, "Come, boy! Climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and have fun.""I am too busy to climb trees," said the boy. "I want a house to keep me warm. I want a wife and I want children, so I need a house. Can you give me a house?"
"I have no house," said the tree. "The forest is my house, but you may cut off my branches and build a house. The boy cut off her branches and carried them away to build his house. And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long long time. And when he came back, the tree was so happy she could hardly speak.
"Come, boy," she whispered, "Come and play and have fun again." “I am too old and sad to play," said the boy. "Life is lack of fun. I want a boat that will take me far away from here. Can you give me a boat?"
"I have no boat,” said the tree. “But you can cut down my trunk and make a boat. Then you can sail away and be happy." And so the boy cut down her trunk. He made a boat and sailed away. And the tree was happy.
And after a long time the boy came back again.
"I’m sorry, boy," said the tree, "I have nothing left to give you. My apples are gone." "My teeth are too weak for apples now," said the boy.
"My branches are gone too," said the tree. "You cannot swing on them.” "I am too old to swing on branches," said the boy.
"Even my trunk is gone," said the tree. "You cannot climb." "I am too tired to climb," said the boy.
"I am sorry," sighed the tree. "I wish that I could give you something…but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump. I’m sorry."
"I don't need very much now," said the boy. " "Just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired."
"Well," said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could. "Well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, boy! Come sit down. Sit down and rest." And the boy did.
And the tree was happy.
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The nature has offered so much to us, but what have we given back to the nature?
