THE MAD MAN

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.