.rainbow.

once upon atime the seven main colours of the world started to quarrel.

each claimed that is was the best, the most important, the most useful, the most beautiful, the favourite.

this went for some time and there was much disturbance.

green said, " clearly i am the most important. iam the sign of life and of hope.

i was chosen for grass, trees and leaves.

without me, all animals would die. look over the countryside and you will see that i am the majority.

blue interrupted, "you only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea.

it is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea.

the sky gives space and peace and serenity.

without my peace, you would all be nothing."

yellow chuckled,"you are all so serious. i bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world.

the sun is yellow,the moon is yellow,even the stars are yellow.

every time you look at a sunflower,the whole world starts to smile.

without me there would be no fun."

orange started next to blow her trumpet,"i am the colour of health and strength.

i may be scarce, but i am precious for i serve the needs of human life.

i carry the most important vitamins.

think of carrots,pumpkins,oranges,mangoes, and papayas.

i don't hang around all the time, but when i fill the sky at sunrise or sunset,

my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."

red could stand it no longer. he shouted out,"i am the ruler of all of you.

i am blood-life's blood! i am the colour of danger and of bravery.

i am willin to fight for a cause.

i bring fire into the blood. without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon.

i am the colour of passion and of loves, the red rose,the poinsettia and the poppy."

purple rose up to his full height.

he was very tall and spoke with great pomp,"i am the colour of royalty and power.

kings,chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for i am the sign of authority and wisdom.

people do not question me! they listen and obey."

finally indigo spoke, much more quietly than the others,

but with just as much determination.

"think of me. i am the colour of silence.

you hardly notice me,but without me,you all become superficial.

i represent thought and reflection,twilight and deep water.

you need me for prayer and inner peace."

and so the colours went on boasting,each convinced of his or her own superiority.

their quarreling became louder and louder.

suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightning as thunder rolled and boomed.

the colours crouched down in fear,drawing close to one another for comfort.

in the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak,"you foolish colours,fighting amongst yourselves,

each trying to dominate the rest.

don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose,unique and different?

join hands with one another and come to me."

doing as they were told,the colours united and joined hands.

rain continued,"from now on,when it rains,each of you will strect across the sky in a great bow of colour and join hands as a reminder that you can all live in peace.

this rainbow is sign of hope for tomorrow."

each of the colours is splendid on its own but together,

the seven colours make the woundrous sight that is the rainbow.

it would be impossible to see a rainbow if any one of the colours is missing.

and so, whenever a good rain washes the world,

and a rainbow appears in the sky,

let us remember