| |
THE STARFISH POEM
| |
|
Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do
his writing.
He had a habit of walking on the beach
before he began his work. |
|
One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked
down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a
dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who
would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to
catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young
man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he
was reaching down to the shore, picking up something
and very gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got
closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?"
The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing
starfish in the ocean." "I guess I should have asked, why
are you throwing starfish in the ocean?" The sun is up
and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in
they'll die." "But, young man, don't you realize that there
are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You
can't possibly make a difference!" The young man listened
politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and
threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said-
"It made a difference for that one."
|
|
