A4-Windswept

Windswept

by Nadine D'Souza

　　The Copperpod tree铜荚树 was in full bloom. Vibrant(full of energy and enthusiasm.充满活力) and vivacious快活的；性格活泼的 it swayed摇摆；摆动 gracefully from side to side, sending down a shower of copper铜色的 yellow petals花瓣.

　　"Gosh, you're beautiful!" exclaimed the other trees.

　　The Copperpod tree stood up straight and rustled发出沙沙声 its leaves, clearly enjoying the attention.

　　A gust一阵狂风；一阵强风 of wind blew through the forest causing all the trees to bend westwards.

　　"Oh no... my flowers!" cried the Copperpod tree, trying its best to stand still.

　　Another gust of wind sent the trees swaying the other way.

　　"That's enough!" said the Copperpod tree, as a bunch of flowers fell from its top most branches, "I've just about had enough!"

　　All the other trees turned to look.

　　"Now look here Mr. Wind, I refuse to dance to your tunes any more! I wish to sway by myself! Not the way you want me to!" said the Copperpod tree firmly.

　　A gentle whisper broke out among the trees.

　　The wind stopped blowing. The din of dead silence rang through the forest./寂静无声的喧嚣响彻森林

　　A moment later the wind swept through the air again. It circled around the trees and made a whooshing嘶声 sound. But it never touched the Copperpod tree.

　　The Copperpod tree watched the other trees giggle as the wind tickled胳肢；逗乐；呵痒 their branches. Then it turned the other way and admired its flowers. Out of the corner of its eye it looked to see if any tree was watching. But they were all dancing with the wind.

　　The Copperpod tree tried to ruffle弄皱；弄乱 its flowers. But it couldn't. It tried to shake its branches. But it couldn't. It tried to lean closer to the other trees. But it couldn't. All it could do was stand still.

　　"Gosh, you're beautiful!" said the trees.

　　A few days later, the Copperpod tree opened its tired eyes with a glimmer of hope. But the other trees were looking elsewhere. They were looking at the Gulmohar tree高莫哈树, which was ablaze发亮的；发光的 with fiery火一般的；火的 red flowers. It was scattering it's petals in the air like tiny sparks of fire. The wind blew around it; tousling纷乱状态 its branches and making its flowers flush an even brighter red.

　　Nobody paid any attention to the Copperpod tree which was all bend now. There wasn't a single copper yellow flower on it. Dried flowers and leaves still clung to its branches.

　　The Copperpod tree let out a groan. Its trunk was hurting from standing so still. It longed to sway at least once! But the wind refused to even come near it.

　　"Allright, Mr. Wind, I'm sorry! The truth is that I need you," said the Copperpod tree. It felt a slight waft吹拂 of air near its side. The wind had come closer to listen.

　　"I know I'm a big beautiful tree, with lovely flowers and healthy branches and a nice strong trunk. But all that doesn't matter, if all I can do is be still!" said the Copperpod tree.

　　"I want to sprinkle撒；把…撒（或洒）在…上 my petals over the little children that sit beneath me. I want to reach out my branches and kiss the sky. I want to stretch伸展；延伸 and protect the people that take shelter under me. I want to dance again. I want to be a living, breathing tree that sways with the wind!' the Copperpod tree hunched弓身；弓背 lower, unable to even stand up straight any more.

　　A gentle breeze floated over the Copperpod tree. It started out as its roots, awakening them from their slumber沉睡状态；安睡；微睡. It travelled upwards wrapping itself around its trunk and permeating渗透；弥漫；扩散 through its gnarled木瘤；木节；树节 branches. It gave the tree a little shake, causing its dried flowers and leaves to fall away. It nuzzled用鼻子擦[触]；用鼻爱抚 the little flower buds which started blooming. The wind encompassed环绕 the Copperpod tree in a giant hug and swayed with it in a soft gentle dance.

　　The Copperpod tree threw its branches around the wind and danced like it had never danced before!

 

From: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV14741157Bc/?p=1