미국 음악가 셸 실버스타인 Shel Silverstein(1930~1999)의 주옥(珠玉)같은 작품이다.
옛날 어느 곳에 사과나무 한 그루와 사과나무가 무척 아끼는 소년 한 명이 있었다. 거의 매일 소년은 나뭇가지에 올라가 매달려 놀기도 하고 그네도 타며 사과도 먹고 숨바꼭질도 했다. 그러다가 피곤해지면 나무 그늘에서 쌔근쌔근 잠을 잤다.
그리고 나무에 ‘나 + 나무’ Me + T라는 글자도 사랑스럽게 새겼다. 하지만 소년은 성장해가면서 나무를 찾는 횟수가 눈에 띄게 줄었고, 행여 오더라도 여자친구와 함께 와 이제는 나무에 자기와 여자친구의 이름(Me + Y. L)을 새겼다.
그래도 나무는 소년이 성장해가는 단계마다 어떻게 하면 소년을 행복하게 해줄 수 있을까만 생각하며 자신의 모든 걸 하나
씩 내어준다. 소년이 필요한 물건을 살 돈이 없을 땐 사과 열매를, 집이 필요할 땐 튼튼한 가지들을, 배[보트]가 필요할 땐 몸통까지 주면서도 행복해하는 바보 나무였다.
오랜 시간이 흘러 노인이 되어버린 소년이 다시 나무를 찾아왔을 때, 나무는 슬퍼한다. 이제 그루터기[밑동] stump만 남아 더는 줄 것이 없었기 때문이다.
“너에게 더 줄 게 있으면 좋겠는데, 이제 내게 남은 건 아무것도 없네. 그루터기밖에 안 남았어. 미안해.”
그러나 노인이 된 소년은 말했다. “괜찮아. 이젠 치아도 없어서 사과도 못 먹고, 힘도 없어서 가지로 올라가거나 그네도 타지 못하는 데 뭘. 이젠 단지 조용히 앉아서 쉴 곳이 필요할 뿐이야.”
그러자 나무는 말없이 자신의 그루터기를 내어주었다.
The Giving Tree By Shel Silverstein
Once there was a tree.... and she loved a little boy. And everyday the boy would come and he would gather her leaves and make them into crowns and play king of the forest. He would climb up her trunk and swing from her branches and eat apples. And they would play hide-and-go-seek. And when he was tired, he would sleep in her shade. And the boy loved the tree.... very much. And the tree was happy. But time went by. And the boy grew older. And the tree was often alone. Then one day the boy came to the tree and the tree said, "Come, Boy, come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and eat apples and play in my shade and be happy." "I am too big to climb and play" said the boy. "I want to buy things and have fun. I want some money?" "I'm sorry," said the tree, "but I have no money. I have only leaves and apples. Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in the city. Then you will have money and you will be happy." And so the boy climbed up the tree and gathered her apples and carried them away. And the tree was happy. But the boy stayed away for a long time.... and the tree was sad. And then one day the boy came back and the tree shook with joy and she said, "Come, Boy, climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and be happy." "I am too busy to climb trees," said the boy. "I want a house to keep me warm," he said. "I want a wife and I want children, and so I need a house. Can you give me a house ?" " I have no house," said the tree. "The forest is my house, but you may cut off my branches and build a house. Then you will be happy." And so the boy cut off her branches and carried them away to build his house. And the tree was happy. But the boy stayed away for a long time. And when he came back, the tree was so happy she could hardly speak. "Come, Boy," she whispered, "come and play." "I am too old and sad to play," said the boy. "I want a boat that will take me far away from here. Can you give me a boat?" "Cut down my trunk and make a boat," said the tree. "Then you can sail away... and be happy." And so the boy cut down her trunk and made a boat and sailed away. And the tree was happy ... but not really. And after a long time the boy came back again. "I am sorry, Boy," said the tree," but I have nothing left to give you - My apples are gone." "My teeth are too weak for apples," said the boy. "My branches are gone," said the tree. " You cannot swing on them - " "I am too old to swing on branches," said the boy. "My trunk is gone, " said the tree. "You cannot climb - " "I am too tired to climb" said the boy. "I am sorry," sighed the tree. "I wish that I could give you something.... but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump. I am sorry...." "I don't need very much now," said the boy. "just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired." "Well," said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, "well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest." And the boy did. And the tree was happy.
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