Front and Back of the Garden
Adolfo Castañón
Translated to English by Rowena Hill
Behind the silence the garden
Are the trees catching fire?
No: the wind
is shaking fronds
The sparrow sings grey dove cries
the quiet jubilation of the birds
drips its colors in silence
in the distance itâs not the sea
the clamor of the city
The garden wakes below the clouds
Am I sailing adrift
world to world from this raft?
No: rather Iâm a tree
Iâve always been here
My size is a secret
I blend with the house
I hold it among my branches
Iâm invisible the sun nourishes me
imperceptibly I nourish the earth
I donât know my true
face
Tree fine wood for molding
I donât know if Iâm the best carpenter for it
II.
Behind the silence garden
Trees catching fire?
The wind kindles fronds
Sing sparrow
Dove jubilation
Quiet cry
Bird color drips
In the distance itâs not the sea
clamor of the city
The garden wakes in silence
the cloud sleeps
Who is sailing adrift
mute from this raft?
(His name is I but heâs called You)
I know:
âIâm a tree Iâve always been here
Iâm not really aware of my sizeâ
Itâs not a secret
it blends with the house
(In the distance the cityâs clamor)
I hold it in my grey hair
(âŠitâs not the sea)
Iâm invisible behind the silence another garden
The sun nourishes my jubilation
and the earth: I
My name? I donât know it
Tree?
Face in the clamor?
Fine wood for molding?
Who are you? The reader? The carpenter?
Posted: April 22, 2012 at 4:56 pm







