PAULO COELHO Short Story THE THREE CEDAR TREES English TEXT
Paulo Coelho
The Three Cedar Trees
Short Stories by Paulo Coelho
Full English Text
Brazilian literature
The short story ” The Three Cedar Trees “ was written by the well-known Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho. The cedar is a typical tree of the Middle Eastern areas. One of the most famous legends about this tree is that of the Three Cedars of Lebanon, which I present below.
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Happy reading and good cedar!
Paulo Coelho All Stories > Here
Paulo Coelho
The Three Cedar Trees
Short Story
Full English Text
My grandmother told the following story: three cedar trees sprouted in the once beautiful forests of Lebanon.
As is known, cedar trees take a long time to grow, and these trees spent whole centuries contemplating life, death, nature and mankind.
They witnessed the arrival of an expedition from Israel, sent by Solomon, and later saw the earth covered with blood, during the wars with Syria.
They saw Jezebel and the prophet Elijah, who were mortal enemies.
They watched the invention of the alphabet, and enjoyed seeing the caravans passing, laden with colorful textiles.
One fine day, they decided to talk about the future.
– After all I have seen – said the first tree – I wish to be made into the throne of the most powerful king on earth.
– I’d like to be part of something that turns Evil to Good forever – commented the second.
– Myself, I’d like it if every time someone looked at me, they thought of God – replied the third.
More time passed, and some woodcutters came. The cedars were felled, and a ship carried them far away.
Each of those trees had a wish, but reality never asks what to do with dreams; the first was used to build a shelter for animals, and what was left over was used as a prop for bales of hay.
The second tree was turned into a very simple tree, which was soon sold to a furniture tradesman.
Since the timber from the third tree had no buyers as yet, it was cut up and stored in the warehouse of a large town.
They lamented woefully: “Our wood was so good, and no one found anything fine to use it for.”
Some time passed and, one starry night, a couple with nowhere to stay, decided to spend the night in the stable which had been built from the first tree.
The woman groaned, in the throes of labor, and gave birth, placing her son between the hay and the wood propping it up.
Just then, the first tree understood that his dream had come true: that this was the greatest king on Earth.
Years later, in a modest house, several men sat around the table which had been made from the second tree. Before they ate, one of them said a few words about the bread and wine before them.
And the second tree understood that, at that moment, it hadn’t just been supporting a goblet and a piece of bread, but the union between man and Divinity.
The next day, two pieces of the third tree were taken and assembled to form a cross. It was left to one side, until, hours later, a cruelly beaten man was brought in and nailed to the wood.
Horrified, the cedar lamented the barbaric destiny life had left it.
Before three days had passed, however, the third tree understood its destiny: the man nailed there was now the Light which illuminated all around.
The cross made from its wood was now no longer a symbol of torture, but became a sign of victory.
As always with dreams, the three cedar trees from Lebanon had fulfilled the destiny they desired – but not in the way they imagined.
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Paulo Coelho – The three cedar trees
Short Stories by Paulo Coelho
Full English Text
Brazilian literature
Paulo Coelho All Stories > Here
Paulo Coelho
Paulo Coelho de Souza (born 24 August 1947) is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist and the recipient of numerous international awards.
Paulo Coelho is best known for his widely translated novel The Alchemist. A keen user of electronic media, in 2014 he uploaded his personal papers online to create a virtual Paulo Coelho Foundation. (wikipedia)
Paulo Coelho Bibliography > Here
Paulo Coelho
Bibliography
(Year – Portuguese title – English title)
1974 – Teatro da Educação – Theater For Education
1982 – Arquivos do Inferno – Hell Archives
1987 – O Diário de um Mago – The Pilgrimage
1988 – O Alquimista – The Alchemist
1990 – Brida – Brida
1991 – O Dom Supremo – The Supreme Gift
1992 – As Valkírias – The Valkyries
1994 – Maktub – Maktub
1994 – Na margem do rio Piedra eu sentei e chorei – By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept
1996 – O Monte Cinco – The Fifth Mountain
1997 – Cartas de amor de um profeta – Love Letters from a Prophet
1997 – Manual do guerreiro da luz – Manual of the Warrior of Light
1998 – Veronika decide morrer – Veronika Decides to Die
1998 – Palavras essenciais – Essential Words
2000 – O Demônio e a Srta. Prym – The Devil and Miss Prym
2001 – Historias para pais, filhos e netos – Fathers, Sons and Grandsons
2003 – Onze Minutos – Eleven Minutes
2004 – O Gênio e as Rosas – The Genie and the Roses
2004 – Viagens – Journeys
2004 – Vida – Life
2005 – O Zahir – The Zahir
2005 – Caminhos Recolhidos – Revived Paths
2006 – Ser Como o Rio que Flui – Like the Flowing River
2006 – A Bruxa de Portobello – The Witch of Portobello
2008 – O vencedor está só – The Winner Stands Alone
2009 – Amor – Love
2010 – Aleph – Aleph
2011 – Fábulas
2012 – Manuscrito Encontrado em Accra – Manuscript Found in Accra
2014 – Adultério – Adultery
2016 – A Espiã – The Spy
2018 – Hippie – Hippie
(wikipedia)
