Nets to Catch the Wind — Bronze Trumpets and Sea Water - On Turning Latin into English

BRONZE TRUMPETS AND SEA WATER--

ON TURNING LATIN INTO ENGLISH

Alembics turn to stranger things Strange things, but never while we live Shall magic turn this bronze that sings To singing water in a sieve.

The trumpeters of Caesar's guard Salute his rigorous bastions With ordered bruit; the bronze is hard Though there is silver in the bronze.

Our mutable tongue is like the sea, Curled wave and shattering thunder-fit;

Dangle in strings of sand shall be Who smooths the ripples out of it.