Living
From heaven there fell upon the foaming wave
Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring (1853) · From West-Eastern Divan
FROM heaven there fell upon the foaming wave
A timid drop; the flood with anger roared,--
But God, its modest boldness to reward,
Strength to the drop and firm endurance gave.
Its form the mussel captive took,
And to its lasting glory and renown,
The pearl now glistens in our monarch's crown,
With gentle gleam and loving look.
Cite this poem
MLA
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. “From heaven there fell upon the foaming wave.” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/goethe/376/.
Chicago
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. “From heaven there fell upon the foaming wave.” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/goethe/376/.
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