adapted by Amy Friedman
ACACIA'S SECRET HEART (a Southern African legend)
Once upon a time, every tree and plant, every animal and human being,
and even every insect and mote of dust understood that everyone
depended upon everything else, and so kindness and generosity,
simplicity and goodness reigned.
But time passed, and the living things of the world began to take for
granted the goodness surrounding them. Few gave thanks for their gifts;
the birds forgot to thank the flowers for their seeds that fed them,
and the animals forgot to praise the rain for filling streams that
quenched their thirst, and people began to forget to thank the trees
for giving shelter, fruit and shade.
One day Rabbit sat down beside a flowering acacia tree and looked up at
the bright yellow flowers, the rough bark and the sturdy limbs
stretching toward the sun. He smiled and said, "Thank you, Acacia, for
your shade and strength. Do you mind if I lean up against you to take a
rest?"
Acacia quivered with gratitude, and as she did, every leaf shook and
shimmered in the sunlight. Across the way, the mango tree noticed this,
and it gave her such pleasure to see Acacia's happiness, she shook free
a fruit from her branches and dropped it to the ground before Rabbit.
"For you, in case you're hungry," Mango said.
"Thank you," Rabbit beamed, for he was hungry, and he whispered a
prayer of gratitude. "Everyone deserves respect," he said. "Amen."
Then Rabbit ate his mango and leaned against Acacia to sleep
"I am happy to offer you my trunk because you understand that it is the
simple things that make all the difference in the world," said Acacia.
Rabbit slept until the sun began to set and the air grew cool. As he got up to leave, he bowed to Acacia. "Thank you again," he said, but Acacia
swayed forward, leaning close, and whispered, "Years have passed since
anyone showed me such kindness. I would like to share a secret with
you." Rabbit's nose wriggled with excitement. "A secret! Wonderful!" he said, and saw a tiny slit that ran the length of Acacia's trunk. The slit grew wider, until Rabbit saw this was an entryway. "Come inside," Acacia whispered. Rabbit stepped gingerly inside. to his amazement, there, in the secret heart of the Acacia, a glorious garden brimmed with light. The place smelled sweeter than any scent Rabbit had every experienced, and as he looked around, he saw that this was where the world was born. Butterflies fluttered about his head, every sort of flower bloomed, and gems lay upon the ground, which was softer than anything Rabbit had ever touched. The sights and smells and the sound -- the purest, deepest quiet imaginable -- overwhelmed Rabbit. He sat down slowly, drinking in the wealth of this secret world.
"This is my heart," Acacia whispered, and Rabbit understood that the heart of the tree was beauty. "Thank you for showing me," he said.
"Take something, a gift from my heart to yours," Acacia said.
Rabbit looked around and at last selected a tiny gold band, slim and shiny. He slipped it over one of his ears, and once again Acacia opened her
trunk, and Rabbit hopped outside.
As he was returning home, Hyena sprang out of the bush and captured Rabbit by his leg. He noticed at once the glimmering ring on Rabbit's ear.
"Where did you get that?" Hyena demanded.
"I can't tell you. It's a secret," Rabbit whispered, and just then Lion
appeared, but just as he was about to chase Hyena, he too saw the ring
on Rabbit's ear. "What's that?"
"I can't tell you. It's a secret," Rabbit said.
"Then we shall have to kill you," Hyena and Lion said together.
"Please, don't," Rabbit begged. And so he revealed the secret of Acacia's heart.
The moment the others heard, they let go of Rabbit and raced to the acacia tree. There they knocked against the bark. Other animals nearby noticed all the excitement and came running.
Hyena spoke for everyone. "Acacia, we were thinking it would be nice if you
offered us your hospitality. We want to know what makes you tick."
Acacia leaned and whispered, "So you wish to know my heart?"
"We do!" Hyena cried, and at that moment Acacia's trunk split open and
Hyena and Lion, Zebra and Monkey, Bee and Springbok and Spider, like
Rabbit before them, were treated to the sight of shimmering gems and
gorgeous light, of butterflies and flowers, of silence and softness
such as none had ever known. But the creatures did not sit to look
around in wonder as Rabbit had. Instead, they immediately began to pick
up jewels and gems, all the while chattering away. "Oh yes, there's
beauty here, oh yes, what beautiful stones, oh me, oh my ..."
But they failed to notice that the light inside was starting to fade, that
the ground was hardening, and the crack through which they entered was
narrowing.
"Wait!" Monkey cried when he looked around. "We need to get out," and all the animals bounded toward the exit from Acacia's heart.
One by one they squeezed outside, but when they were free, they looked down at their gems and saw that these had turned to dust.
Ever since that day, Acacia has not shown her heart to anyone. Some say it had been bruised forever, but others say Acacia and all the other trees
await the simplicity and gratitude that once existed in this world, and
when it returns, they will, once more, reveal their hearts.
Sujet: Acacia's Secret Heart 
