Its majestic presence trespass,
From stone, waterfalls, and evergreen trees,
Relatively raw steel, concrete, and glass,
And rests upon serenity seas,
But there on a woodland waterfall,
Its earthy existence instead
An artificial tranquil wilderness enthrall,
And self-possessing calmness embed.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Kaufmann House is also known as Fallingwater, appealed to me because it encompasses natural beauty with artificial architectural aspects, which do not detract from its earthy presence, instead enhance it. The essential details are the flowing water which the house appears to rest on, the floating balconies above, and its harmonious existence within its surroundings. It is the combination of the materials used in the house’s construction, which underline and accentuate the landscape it inhabits. The dominant colors even reflect color which is organic not artificially made. I believe my translation preserves the original because it enhances what is readily observable rather than re-imagining it. By describing the peace and calming effect the house provides because of its consonance with its environment, and the tranquility it brings by allowing and intensifying the natural elements to remain in their organic form, I hope to capture the mood and feeling of the Kaufmann House’s reposeful dwelling. The new understanding one could receive from my ekphrastic poem is the natural feeling the house conjures when mused upon, its organic flare as though it emerged from the soil and grew in the nurturing light of the sun while firmly rooted in the earth for its vital stability.
Insights 