Receita para jardim no caminho de sirga

                                Receita para jardim no caminho de sirga

                                Içar a velha canoa do canal, assentar a quilha
                                na relva seca. Enchê-la com terra e cacos de tijolo,
                                pesado quanto baste, pr'a cimentar a sua alma inquieta.

                                Plantar da proa à ré com medicinais:
                                um pequeno limoeiro crescido de semente,
                                lúcia-lima ou verbena, lavanda, zimbro

                                e flor de lúpulo, p'ra encaminhar a barreira de ferrugem.
                                Pressionar as raízes para baixo, regá-las.
                                No Verão as abelhas cuidarão das flores,

                                e tu secarás as pétalas, colherás os frutos,
                                e deles distilarás tão vigorosos sumos
                                que farão nascer os mais bravios sonhos de liberdade.
 

Recipe for a Towpath Garden

Lift the old canoe from the canal, set down its keel 
on the dry grass. Fill it with soil and broken tiles 
heavy enough to thwart its restive spirit. 

Plant it bow to stern with medicinals: 
a small lemon tree grown from a pip, 
lollipop verbena, lavender, juniper 

and hops to train up the rusty barrier. 
Press down the roots, give them water. 
Next summer bees will pollinate the flowers 

and you’ll dry the petals, pick the fruits, 
then distil drinks from them so strong 
they’ll bring the wildest dreams of freedom.
                                                                                 
                                                             Nancy Campbell