The Pomegranate

Once when I was living in the heart of a pomegranate, I heard a seed

saying, "Someday I shall become a tree, and the wind will sing in

my branches, and the sun will dance on my leaves, and I shall be

strong and beautiful through all the seasons."

Then another seed spoke and said, "When I was as young as you, I

too held such views; but now that I can weigh and measure things,

I see that my hopes were vain."

And a third seed spoke also, "I see in us nothing that promises so

great a future."

And a fourth said, "But what a mockery our life would be, without

a greater future!"

Said a fifth, "Why dispute what we shall be, when we know not even

what we are."

But a sixth replied, "Whatever we are, that we shall continue to

be."

And a seventh said, "I have such a clear idea how everything will

be, but I cannot put it into words."

Then an eight spoke--and a ninth--and a tenth--and then many--until

all were speaking, and I could distinguish nothing for the many

voices.

And so I moved that very day into the heart of a quince, where the

seeds are few and almost silent.