Un cachiño diminuto de terra (gl – en)

Un cachiño diminuto de terra de ovellas
foi o regalo á parella para que plantaran 
a sua nova vida nela

comezaron coa casa ladrillo a ladrillo
e co burato do pozo de onde
a dinamita sacou unha montaña de pedra 
 - durante anos terreo de xogos
logo galiñeiro, pozo negro, anaco de horta 
e un xardín triangular cheo de flores 
e herbas medicinais

constante esforzo civilizador 
nesta rexión da fronteira 
estendendo paseos de cemento 
muros, postes, varandas
beirados, chanzos, portais 
os colonos non podían ceder 
o pouco terreo gañado

a terra fertilizada pola constante actividade 
deu á parella catro fillos que corrian 
cos zapatos secos arredor da casa
e aprenderon a présa coa que as silvas 
cobren a sementeira cando a preguiza 
adormenta os membros

ás veces aínda paso os dedos 
sobre a cicatriz da perna 
e volvo sentir baixo os pes 
aquel monte de pedras afiadas 
no que gabeaba alleo ás dificultades 
non imaxino que puidera 
haber habido un universo mellor 
onde medrar 

A tiny patch of land

A tiny patch of sheep land
it was the gift to the couple to plant
his new life in it

they started with the house brick by brick
and with the well hole from where
the dynamite took out a mountain of stone
 - for years playground
then chicken coop, cesspool, piece of vegetable garden
and a triangular garden full of flowers
and medicinal herbs

constant civilizing effort
in this border region
laying concrete walks
walls, posts, railings
kerbs, steps, gates
the settlers could not yield
the little ground gained

the land fertilized by constant activity
gave the couple four children who ran
with dry shoes around the house
and learned the haste with which brambles 
cover a field when laziness
numbs the limbs

sometimes I still run my fingers
on the leg scar
and feel underfoot again
that mountain of sharp stones
in which I climbed oblivious to the difficulties
I don't imagine there could 
have been a better universe 
to grow up in