In a small section of the gardan a tiny weed spoke to the blooms that
grew there. 'Why,' he asked, 'does the gardener seek to kill me? Do I
not have a right to life? Are my leaves not green, as yours are? Is it
too much to ask that I be allowed to grow and see the sun?' The blooms
pondered on this, and decided to ask the gardener to spare the weed. He
did so. Day by day the weed grew, stronger and stronger, taller and
taller, its leaves covering the other plants, its roots spreading. One
by one the flowers died, until only a rose was left. It gazed up at the
enormous weed and asked: 'Why do you seek to kill me? Do I not have a
right to life? Are my leaves not green, as yours are? Is it too much to
ask that I be allowed to grow and see the sun?'
'Yes, it is too much to ask,' said the weed.