Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile spring soil.
The first seed said, “I want to grow! I want to send my roots deep into the soil, beneath me, and I thrust my sprouts through the earth's crust above me...I want to spread my tender buds like banners to announce the coming of spring...I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the blessing of the morning dew on my petals!”
And so she grew.
The second seed said, “I am afraid. If I send my roots into the ground below, I don't know what I will meet in the dark. If I push my way through the hard soil above me I may damage my delicate sprouts...what if I let my buds open and a snail tries to eat them? And if I were to open my flowers, a small child may pull me from the ground. Oh no, it is much better for me to wait until it is safe.”
And so she waited.
A yard hen scratching around in the early spring ground for food found the waiting seed and immediately ate it.
春天,肥沃的土壤里并排躺着两颗种子。
一颗种子说:“我要长大。我要把我的根深深地扎于泥土之中。我要用我的嫩芽芽破开我身上的硬土……。我要用我幼嫩的蓓蕾像旗帜一样向人们展示春天的到来……我要用我的脸来感受阳光的温暖,用我的花瓣接受朝露对我的祝福。”
于是它就发芽了。
另一颗种子说:“我好害怕。如果我把根伸到地下,不知道在黑暗的泥土中会碰到什么。要是我钻出头顶上的硬土,会伤了我稚嫩的幼芽……要是我打开花蕾,蜗牛要来吃它,那可怎么是好?我要是开放我的花朵,说不定哪个小孩会把它掐下来的。唉!不行,我还是等一切都安全了,那才稳妥得多。”
于是,它等在那里。
院子里一只母鸡在早春的土壤里扒拉着觅食,发现了那颗等待的种子,一口将它吞下了。