Young Writers Society

Spring

The Evergreen Forest was still, silent, and soundless

A Spring day that was sunlit

Beams of light seemed to nestle on every rock and shrub

The forest was filled with tall, strong trees that towered above all of the insects and flowers

Silent and peaceful

Until a Sprout shot out of the damp soil

This Sprout had a tiny stem

"I wish I was as tall as all of the other trees," said the tiny Sprout

A Caterpillar slowly inched its way toward the Sprout

"Sprout, what does it mean to love?", said the Caterpillar

"Hello there, Caterpillar,

I think love means being like the Tallest Trees. Maybe you should ask them. They must know what love means. I am too small to love."

Summer

The Summer heat was consuming

a Sapling was comfortably resting in the Evergreen Forest

This Sapling had once been a Sprout but had grown bigger and stronger

On one of the Saplings branches, there was a Chrysalis

This Chrysalis had once been a Caterpillar

The Chrysalis and the Sapling had become best friends

They were always inseparable

The Chrysalis, nestled safely on the Saplings branch asked,

"Sapling, what does it mean to love?"

"Chrysalis, I don't know what it means to love. I am only a Sapling. I am too small. How about you ask the Tallest Trees? They must know.

Fall

The Evergreen Forest was silent for a very long time

One Fall morning, a Tree awoke to realize that it was completely alone

This Tree looked at its branches, which were completely bare

"I have lost my leaves and I have lost my Chrysalis," remarked the Tree

"Who will be my friend now that I am completely alone."

The Tree cried and cried and cried

It cried so many tears that it grew and grew and grew,

until it was the Tallest Tree in the Evergreen Forest.

Winter

Eventually, in the Winter, the Tallest Tree had no more tears that it could cry

The Tallest Tree opened its eyes and saw all of the other Trees in the Evergreen forest

"This is marvelous," said the Tallest Tree

"Look at all of these creations, which are growing. They will someday be Tallest Trees like me."

The Tallest Tree felt something flutter against one of its many, strong branches

It was a butterfly

A beautiful, glorious butterfly

"Hello, Tallest Tree," said the Butterfly, "I see you are grown now."

"I am grown now and now I see that everything is beautiful

Look at those Trees down there

They are working so hard to grow

And look at those Saplings

They are sprouting small branches and leaves

And look at those Sprouts

They are learning so fast and are filled with curiosity"

"You are right," said the Butterfly

"I have known you for many seasons and I have asked you many times

Tallest Tree, what does it mean to love?"

Before the Tallest Tree could answer, a very loud sound shot through the Evergreen Forest

It was the sound of a machine that the humans used to cut down Tallest Trees

The Tallest Tree fell

I saw all of the Trees, Saplings, and Sprouts

I saw everything that I once was

And everything that I have the potential to become

"I now know what love is"

Love is being a Sprout

and a Sapling

and a Tree

Love is having a Caterpillar

and a Chrysalis

and a Butterfly

as your Friend

Love is seeing all of the other Trees that are growing

and knowing that one day

they will be the Tallest Trees

After the Fallen Tree spoke these words

It hit the ground

Far in the distance

High in the sky

the Butterfly flew

into the clouds

to enjoy the rays of sunshine

Spring

On a spring day, everything was quiet in the Evergreen Forest

The Tallest Trees towered above the ground, as high as skyscrapers

A tiny Sprout shot out of the ground

A Fallen Tree, not far away from the Sprout said,

"Sprout, what does it mean to love?"

The End.