Nature
Shorter Poems 38: On a Crystal enclosing a Drop of Water
Translated by Maurice Platnauer (1922) · From Shorter Poems
Children love to handle this shining crystal and turn its chilly mass over and over in their little hands; they see imprisoned in the transparent rock the water which alone winter forebore to freeze. Placing the dry sphere against their thirsty lips they press useless kisses on that which guards the waters they desire.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Claudian. “Shorter Poems 38: On a Crystal enclosing a Drop of Water.” Translated by Maurice Platnauer. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/claudian/66/.
Chicago
Claudian. “Shorter Poems 38: On a Crystal enclosing a Drop of Water.” Translated by Maurice Platnauer. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/claudian/66/.
Read this poem with the Codex →