3.Mandela's Garden(719)

Sixth grade rewrite

Mandela's Garden

【1】In 1977, the prison officials decided that we didn't have to do hard work anymore. Instead, they gave us jobs to do in the courtyard, which meant we could spend our days in our own area.

【2】This change was really freeing. I could now spend my time reading books, writing letters, talking with my friends, or getting ready for legal things. The extra time also let me start two hobbies I really liked on Robben Island: gardening and playing tennis.

【3】To be happy in prison, you have to find ways to enjoy your daily life. You can feel good about things like making sure your clothes are super clean, keeping your hallway dust-free, or organizing your cell to save as much space as possible. Just like you can be proud of big tasks outside of prison, you can also be proud of doing small things inside.

【4】From the start of my time on Robben Island, I asked the officials if I could start a garden in the courtyard. For years, they said no without giving a reason. But eventually they said yes, and we were able to make a small garden on a narrow piece of land against the far wall.

【5】The soil in the courtyard was dry and rocky because it was built over a garbage dump. To start my garden, I had to remove lots of rocks to give the plants room to grow. Some of my friends joked that I was a miner at heart because I spent my days in a wasteland and my free time digging in the courtyard.

【6】The officials gave me seeds. At first, I planted tomatoes, chilies, and onions, which are tough plants that don't need rich soil or constant care. The first few harvests weren't great, but they got better. The officials didn't regret letting me start the garden because once it started to grow well, I often gave the guards some of my best tomatoes and onions.

【7】I've always liked gardening, but it wasn't until I was in prison that I could have my own garden. My first garden was at Fort Hare, where I worked in one of my professors' gardens as part of the university's manual labor requirement. I enjoyed working with the soil instead of just thinking. When I was in Johannesburg studying and working, I didn't have time or space for a garden.

【8】I started reading books about gardening and learned different techniques. I tried growing peanuts using different soils and fertilizers, but eventually, I gave up. It was one of my few failures.

【9】A garden was one of the few things in prison that I could control. Planting a seed, watching it grow, taking care of it, and then harvesting it gave me simple but lasting happiness. Feeling like the owner of that small piece of land gave me a taste of freedom.

【10】In some ways, I saw the garden as a metaphor for my life. Leaders also have to take care of their gardens, planting seeds, watching them grow, and then harvesting the results. Like gardeners, leaders have to take responsibility for what they grow, pay attention to their work, try to protect it from harm, save what can be saved, and let go of what can't succeed.

【11】I wrote two letters to Winnie about a beautiful tomato plant. I told her how I grew it from a tiny seedling into a strong plant that produced deep red fruit. But then, either because of a mistake or lack of care, the plant started to wither and nothing I did could save it.

【12】When it finally died, I took out the roots, washed them, and buried them in the garden. I shared this story in detail. I don't know what she thought about it, but when I wrote it, I had mixed feelings. I didn't want our relationship to end like the plant, but I also felt like I couldn't always take care of the most important relationships in my life. Sometimes, no matter what you do, some things just can't be saved.

六年级改写

曼德拉的花园

【1】1977年，监狱官员决定我们不必再做艰苦的工作了。相反，他们让我们在院子里干活，这意味着我们可以在自己的地方度过我们的日子。

【2】这种变化真的很自由。我现在可以把时间花在读书、写信、和朋友聊天或为法律事务做准备上了。额外的时间也让我在罗本岛开始了我真正喜欢的两个爱好:园艺和打网球。

【3】要想在监狱里过得开心，你就得想办法享受你的日常生活。你可以为自己的衣服超级干净、保持走廊无尘、或者整理你的牢房以尽可能节省空间等事情感到高兴。就像你可以为监狱外的大任务感到自豪一样，你也可以为在监狱里做一些小事情感到自豪。

【4】从我在罗本岛的时候起，我就问官员们我是否可以在院子里种一个花园。多年来，他们没有给出任何理由就拒绝了。但最终他们同意了，我们就能在靠远墙的一块狭窄的土地上建一个小花园。

【5】院子里的土壤又干又多石，因为它是建在垃圾堆上的。为了开辟我的花园，我不得不移走很多石头，给植物生长的空间。我的一些朋友开玩笑说，我骨子里是个矿工，因为我每天都在荒地上度过，空闲时间在院子里挖土。

【6】官员们给了我种子。一开始，我种了西红柿、辣椒和洋葱，这些都是坚韧的植物，不需要肥沃的土壤或持续的照料。最初的几次收成不太好，但后来好转了。官员们并不后悔让我开始种菜，因为一旦它长得很好，我就经常把我最好的西红柿和洋葱给警卫。

【7】我一直喜欢园艺，但直到进了监狱我才有了自己的花园。我的第一个菜园是在福特哈尔，我在一位教授的菜园里工作，这是学校体力劳动要求的一部分。我喜欢与土壤打交道，而不是单纯地思考。当我在约翰内斯堡学习和工作的时候，我没有时间和空间来打理花园。

【8】我开始阅读有关园艺的书籍，学习不同的技术。我试着用不同的土壤和肥料种植花生，但最终我放弃了。这是我为数不多的失败之一。

【9】花园是监狱里我能控制的为数不多的东西之一。种下一颗种子，看着它成长，照顾它，然后收获它，给了我简单而持久的快乐。感觉就像那一小块土地的主人给了我自由的味道。

【10】在某种程度上，我把花园看作是我生活的隐喻。领导者还必须照顾好自己的花园，播种，看着它们成长，然后收获结果。像园丁一样，领导者必须对自己种植的东西负责，专注于自己的工作，努力保护它免受伤害，拯救可以拯救的，放弃不能成功的。

【11】我给温妮写了两封信，谈论一株美丽的番茄。我告诉她我是如何把它从一棵小小的幼苗培育成一棵结实的植物，结出深红色的果实。但后来，要么是因为一个错误，要么是因为缺乏照顾，这棵植物开始枯萎，我做什么都救不了它。

【12】当它最终死去时，我把它的根拔了出来，把它们洗干净，埋在花园里。我详细地分享了这个故事。我不知道她是怎么想的，但当我写的时候，我的心情很复杂。我不希望我们的关系像植物一样结束，但我也觉得我不能总是照顾好我生命中最重要的关系。有时候，无论你做什么，有些事情就是无法挽回。