In a great forest, there were many types of trees and there were also two bamboo plants there.
One of the bamboo was tall, strong and sturdy. This bamboo tree was arrogant and would not bow its head to the North Wind.
The other bamboo was slender and graceful and it swayed with every breeze.
Children who came to the forest loved the graceful bamboo. The children called the graceful bamboo Silver Mist and they loved playing around it.
However, the arrogant bamboo was not impressed with Silver Mist.
“You bend for every breeze. Look at me.” The boastful bamboo told Silver Mist. “I bow to no one and I am strong.”
The gentle bamboo smiled at its neighbour. “You will be a beam in some great person’s house. I am only fit to trim houses for the New Year’s feast.
The boastful bamboo looked even more scornful. “I will be a mast on a ship. I will see strange lands and new people. You are not even brave enough to be at the New Year’s feast. You will be used to making mats for people to walk over.”
The gentle bamboo did not answer back, but she was very sad when she heard this.
The flowers around felt sorry for her and breathed its perfume into her, in an attempt to cheer her up.
The birds also helped her.
Over the days, the gentle bamboo became more and more pretty and the children loved her more.
Adapted from Japanese Folktales
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