1060 The huge tree (L’arberone)
Translated by Peter Nicholas Dale

In the middle a me vegie patch there’s this huge tree
That’s unique – it’s wirmeaten an rotten with age.
Still, ev’ry season, it bears froot that’s a delite ta see,
Bud it’s now got real sour, quite toksick at this stage.

From the first day it stardèd growen, so sumwun rote,
People from ev’ry race on earth’a cum by an stopt
Ta prune it; but the froot it bears after it’s been lopt
’S hotter than red peppers an’ull scorld ya throat.

Sum tell me ta graft a scion on the root-stock a the tree
Becos that way the froot id’ull then bear by-an-by
’Ull improve an becum quite edible n’ tasty.

But a mate a mine, a Collier rebel who’s acute,
Sez we orda’r axe it an then burn the lot sky-high
Becos the canker infekten it runs down’a the root.

1/12/2000
The sonnet is translated into "Strine", the dialect spoken in Australia down to the 1960s.

1060 The huge tree (Orthographically normalized version)
Translated by Peter Nicholas Dale

In the middle of my vegie patch there’s this huge tree
That’s unique – it’s worm-eaten and rotten with age.
Still, every season, it bears fruit that’s a delight to see,
But it’s now got real sour, quite toxic at this stage.

From the first day it started growing, so someone wrote,
People from every race on earth have come by and stopped
To prune it; but the fruit it bears after it’s been lopped
Is hotter than red peppers and’ll scald your throat.

Some tell me to graft a scion on the root-stock of the tree
Because that way the fruit it’ll then bear, by-and-by,
Will improve and become quite edible and tasty.

But a mate of mine, a Collier rebel who’s acute,
Says we ought to axe it and then burn the lot sky-high
Because the canker infecting it runs down to the root.

1/12/2000