The wind, one brilliant day

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The wind, one brilliant day, called 

to my soul with an odor of jasmine.

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"In return for the odor of my jasmine, 

I'd like all the odor of your roses."

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"I have no roses; all the flowers 

in my garden are dead." 

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"Well then, I'll take the withered petals 

and the yellow leaves and the waters of the fountain."

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The wind left. And I wept. And I said 

"What have you done with the garden that was entrusted to you ?"

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~ Antonio Machado

(translated by Robert Bly)

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