Stupendous jade-hued volumes of the sea
That palpitate and crest on such a scale
To make the sailor's resolution quail
And falter; this typhoon is home to me.
The fluctuating surface, and the free
Commotion of the winds, may they avail
The albatross' wings with which I sail
Above the watery tumult heedlessly.
So, shall we guess which destiny I bring,
What consequence my feathered limbs bestow?
If luck exists, do I bear good or ill?
Shall I embrace you with extended wing,
Or hang about your neck and offer woe?
The triple fates who might reply are still.
Daniel Platt is a translator, poet and musician who resides in Los Angeles. More of his translations and original poems can be found here.