4.1 Stone and the flower 石头与花儿

（单词翻译）

"You have hardened" said the flower,bending her petals¹ downward toward the half stone at her roots."These rains should have softened² you.made you more fertile and receptive to the seeds of minerals;but no. You have accumulated minerals，become more silent. Why do you stay here? Why do you resist the brook³ that gives us water?"

The stone said nothing .

A number of clouds passed by,the sun set and the night arrived . The silent stone still had not fallen asleep.The flower had tucked in her petals and slept perfoundly, and at this the stone began to answer:

"I stay here because your roots have made me yours.I stay here because it is no longer about my feelings about the earth rather because I have because part of that which functions as a support of your stem which resists the wind and the rain .Everthing changes,my sweet flowers,"said the stone,"but I stay here because love is that microscopic⁴ space between your feet and my salted skin.You would only be able to feel it if destiny were ever to separate the two of us."

The moon followed the fade of the stars.Dawn gave a yawn as the sun began to burn its horizon on the mouth of a new day.The flower awoke and extended her beautiful petals."Good morning ,"she said,"I dreamt that you were singing to me .How foolish of me ,don't you think?"

The stone said nothing.