This is the garden. It doesn’t have a name.
Gardens don’t usually have names. “Come on,
Susie, let’s go to the garden,” calls Dad.
And off they go. It’s not too far to cycle.

In the garden there is a red watering can,
tomato plants, an apple tree, a plum tree,
a metal bathtub and a chair in a garden shed.
But most importantly in the garden there is Susie.
Otherwise, what would be the point of it?

And there are other gardens here, more
and more of them in long rows.
No two of them are the same.
The allotments are like an atlas of gardens.

Why does Susie go for walks with her dad
around the allotments? Because Dad knows all
the trees and flowers and birds, and Mum needs
to rest for a while. Susie holds his hand,
Susie asks questions, Susie chatters, but then
tiredness suddenly hits her
and they walk along quietly.

(Translated by Graeme Dibble)