Botanics of peace: visitation Poem by Ana Luisa Amaral

I have a flower
whose name I don't know

On the balcony,
its scent blends
with other smells:
hibiscus, rose,
a sprig of verbena

But they will be prodigies
of another morning:
for this flower
has bred leaves of astonishing
green,
minute and subtle

Bombs do not threaten it
nor do romantic winds,
missiles, nor tornados,
neither does it know, although so near,
of the jeopardy the salt
sea air will bring

And the blue autumn sky
disguised as summer
gives it such blessing,
as does the little water that I pour

And this must be
a sort of peace:

a botanical secret
of light

Translation by Ana Hudson