Nature
Shorter Poems 39: On a Crystal enclosing a Drop of Water
Translated by Maurice Platnauer (1922) · From Shorter Poems
Nature
Do not despise this sphere of rock-crystal. Kings’ palaces contain no rarer jewel, nor are the Red Sea’s pearls of greater value. It may be shapeless ice, unpolished rock, a rough, uncarven mass, yet is it accounted among the most precious of riches.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Claudian. “Shorter Poems 39: On a Crystal enclosing a Drop of Water.” Translated by Maurice Platnauer. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/claudian/67/.
Chicago
Claudian. “Shorter Poems 39: On a Crystal enclosing a Drop of Water.” Translated by Maurice Platnauer. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/claudian/67/.
Read this poem with the Codex →