THE OLD TREE IS DYING(Mano Olivera) THE OLD TREE IS DYING
(English translation from Spanish: Dill McLain)

The soil is no longer good. The old tree is dying. Its roots are broken and
diseased.
It resisted as long as possible, but now its hopes are exhausted. The area
has become wild, and the tree is too old to be transplanted.
Fortunately, its seeds migrated while it was still flowering and bearing
fruit. They made it in time and travelled across the seas, carried by birds that
once populated its branches.
Thus, its children germinated in distant lands. They now live there robust
and healthy.
Sometimes, when the north wind blew, the old tree pricked up its ears.
The wind’s voices brought it the rustling of the leaves. The tree was happy,
knowing that it was the children who were sending their kisses.
Now, the old tree is dying. Its traditional soil no longer nourishes.

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